Question Eire

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 1
….

March 17th
St. Paul, Minnesota.

The place was a dive, but that didn’t matter to the man sitting on the well-worn barstool. This day and his ancestry gave him an excuse to do what he would have ordinarily and otherwise done anyhow. The only difference in the choice of his method of forgetting was that the beer was green and occasionally a Guinness or three would get mixed in. He looked up at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar and saw the disappointment that he was. Tall, well over six foot, but slumped and bent by the hardness of life. His hair was shaved short, to hide the baldness and grey. His eyes were an unremarkable shade of hazel, and his eyelids lazily drooped over them in a permanent squint. A paunch was forming, aided by his self-loathing and appetite for drowning his sorrows in food and beer. The promise he had shown in his youth had been squandered, he was to have been something. His parents had held out such hope for him, his keen intelligence and desire to learn and excel had been beaten out of him by life, and now he just got by while working dead end jobs. He stopped to order another round, but the bartender shook his head.

“... ‘Ey pally, I recon ye’ve ‘ad enough.”, the man behind the bar remarked.

Getting off his stool, the patron dropped some cash on the bar and shuffled off, looking to find another establishment to pickle his liver at. Lost in his thoughts and the sheer volume he had consumed, the man never noticed the young punks that slipped off their own stools and followed him out the door.

—————

The young men saw the man take several bills from his wallet and shamble off. With a nod to each other, the three college students followed. Rolling the drunk wouldn’t be too much effort, surely. The three students were on football scholarships to the University, one drunken man couldn’t give them much of a hassle. He’d be too drunk to identify them, and one bum couldn’t hope to take on three much more fit attackers. waiting until the man got to a more secluded spot, the would-be muggers moved into position. One of the boys, a large 6’5” and 280 pound obstacle, slid in front of the man seeking to block escape. The other two, though not as large, were still pretty big. The first blow was from behind, as the boy flanking on the left threw a solid punch to the kidneys. Taking a hit from the boy, the older man pivoted and threw a fast left jab that connected with the jaw of the youth. Dodging a punch from the assailant on the right, the man ducked into a sweep, taking him to the ground. However, the large wall in front of him took that opportunity to stomp on the still extended leg and smashing the ankle. Rolling to his right, the downed man drove his elbow into the jaw of the fallen boy, a loud crack was heard as the jaw broke.

Looking at his friend and accomplice, the largest man grabbed at the drunk.

“Joe! …You bastard, I’m going to make you hurt for that!” The injured man, evidently named Joe, crawled off holding his jaw. The big man resumed his attack, picking up the hobbled man and pile-driving him to the pavement while his other friend repeatedly kicked him, breaking bones and rupturing internal organs. The muggers grabbed the man’s wallet and phone, and left him laying in the snow. He felt hot and feverish, he ached and coughed blood. As the snowfall increased in intensity, the man opened his eyes briefly and saw a lone four leaf clover sticking out defiantly from the white.

“Heh… just my luck.”, he laboriously said before closing his eyes.
Those were the last words the man would speak, as he lay in the white embrace of the falling snow.

—————

March 19th
St. Paul, Minnesota


The city was digging out from the massive snowstorm that had rolled through two nights prior, plows still attempting to clear roads, even now. In the small park a mound of snow shook, and a small figure appeared from within. She wore clothing that appeared to belong to someone easily a foot taller and at least a hundred pounds heavier. The diminutive girl shook herself, casting off the loose snow before she staggered uneasily forward. There was still snow falling and she squinted as the wind whipped it in her face. She blinked her large grey eyes. Eyes that were a smokey shade of grey, mysterious and enigmatic. Eyes that seemed slightly too large, but gave her a wide-eyed look of beauty and intrigue. The girl pulled the hood of the too-large jacket further over her head. She had vague flashes of laying in the snow, feeling like she was burning up, unable to move. She did not know it, but if not for the snow and cold she would have died. The snow was up to her knees, and walking was difficult. She trudged on, not knowing where she was going. If someone had stopped her and asked her anything, she would not have ben able to answer. To her, life had begun when she awoke.

Weary and hungry, the girl paused and sat down a the sheltered bus stop. People came and went and piled into the large vehicles and others climbed out. The girl thought nothing of it. She thought nothing at all. She was empty, not thoughts, no spirit, no personality.

Operating on pure instinct and muscle memory had gotten her this far, but it did not tell her that someone had noticed her and her unusual garb.

The young man had noticed what appeared to be a girl trudging out of the park, the figure was wrapped in clothes that were far too big. She stumbled with the large boots she had on. There was something interesting here, surely. She had finally reached a bus shelter and sat. There were too many people coming and going. If he made a move to take her, he would surely be seen. He was smart.

“They don’t call you ’The Acquirer’ for nothing.”, he thought as he smirked. Looking around, he crossed the street and went over to the shelter. Pretending to look over the bus schedule, he looked at the girl cautiously and inched closer. She did not seem to notice. Cautiously, he inched closer, so that he was next to her. She still had no reaction to him. it was time to take a risk.
Carefully, he placed his hand on her arm. Still no reaction. Plans and thoughts went through his mind. In the Twin Cities underground, The Acquirer was THE person you went to for anything illegal: drugs, girls, booze, weapons, he either had it or knew where to get it. He would take this girl with him, he decided. Standing up, he had a plan. Since the girl seemed out of it and unresponsive, he was sure it’d work. Linking his arm under hers, he helped her up.

“Come with me, Lucy, it’s time to go home, Mom has been worried about you.” What her real name might be, if she even had one, he didn’t care. If anything went wrong, he’d simply use his power, and nobody would remember them having been there. Standing up, he guided her to her feet, and pulled out a phone and began to dial a very specific number.

“Sidero’s Sandwiches, how may I help you?”, came the response from the other end of the connection. Knowing the code, The Acquirer replied, “Two number sevens for delivery, with extra toppings.” There was no such thing as a number seven, and his request for extra toppings let them know that they would need to bring the van to the pick-up. With the address given, He hung up and waited. Soon a van arrived and they carefully loaded her in the back. It was suspicious, surely, but he looked at everyone around and his power flared as he made them forget about the girl and about the van, and most importantly about him.

The van pulled into the parking lot behind the seemingly ordinary shop and two men popped out the front doors and slid open the side panel door. Grabbing the girl’s arms, they walked her in through the rear entry and into the kitchen area. Going over to the wall, The Acquirer slid the framed business license aside and revealed a keypad. Punching in his code, a deep thud was heard and the hidden entry opened up. Going down the stairs, he motioned for his lackey to carry the girl down. the hidden basement area had stacks of contraband booze and ammo up to the ceiling in some places. in the far corner there was a cell, with a simple sink and toilet.

“Let’s see what we have here.”, thought the criminal to himself. He carefully unzipped her way too big jacket, revealing a petite figure with ample curves and a large, sexy bust. Liking what he saw, he pulled off the remainder of her clothes and surveyed the new merchandise. She was exotic, her face soft and round, lips pouty and inviting. she was slender and sensual. Those big eyes were inviting enough to get lost in. Running his gloved hand through her shoulder length crimson hair, he found a surprise… she had delicate points to her ears.

“Holy shit!”, he exclaimed in glee… This bitch is one of those ‘she’ things that old man O’Sullivan always went on about. “Damn, a genuine elf girl… I’m gonna be rich.”

St. Paul had a large Irish community, and to cater to their wants and desires, he had his eyes out for redheads and girls that would please that niche… this one would make him money, enough money that he could certainly buy himself a judge or ten.

The man sat smiling and laughing evilly, but to the girl, none of it registered.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 2
….

March 20th
St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Acquirer’s secret lair.

Jimmy Rossi was out of his element. He had picked up the girl on a whim less than 12 hours ago, but in that time had come to the realization that he was in over his head. He was known as the Acquirer in the underground circles, for his ability to get what his customers needed, but now what he needed was information. When the girl was brought in he had her old clothes stripped off, and had found she was covered in hives. Mysteriously they healed up in about an hour. Since then, the girl had sat unmoving in the cell, not speaking or moving about. She didn’t respond to anyone talking to her, nor did she eat the food that was provided. Information… There was only one man he could call, and as luck would have it, that man owed him a favor.

Bobby “The Weasel” Wessel sat at his desk, pouring over his latest scheme. When the phone rang, he looked over at the ID and smiled. If the Acquirer was calling him it had to be big. Bobby was the go-to guy for information in the underground, his telepathy aiding him in his dealings. That marker he owed had always gnawed at him. He hated owing favors. With a smile, he picked up the phone.

“Wessel’s dry cleaning, how may I help you?”, he replied. On the other end he heard that all too familiar voice. “I have a special order, I need a rush job on my best suit, and delivery ASAP. If you can hurry over, I’ll make it well worth your while.” Neither man was an amateur, and they knew that one or both of their lines had to be tapped.

“I can be over for pick-up in a few minutes, usual location?”, inquired the telepath. After Rossi confirmed, Wessel grabbed his coat and took off for the car in a dash. Because Acquirer’s ‘forget’ powers didn’t work on him, he knew that he was out from behind that marker.

—————

Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, MN.

Gavia frowned, as she turned from the computer. Something was going on, but what? For it to involve both The Weasel and The Acquirer it had to be big. Without more to go on, they were unable to do anything. Further complicating things was the fact that while they knew where The Weasel operated from, the Acquirer was a different matter. He was slippery, and his mutant ability to make people forget meant that nobody knew where his base of operations was, unless he wanted them to.

Sighing and turning back to her desk, she returned to her paperwork. Gavia mused, “It’s always something, and with Card Trick farmed out to Sioux Falls, we are shorthanded. This is the worst time possible for this to happen.”

—————

The Acquirer’s Lair.

Wessel looked over the girl as she sat staring blankly ahead. “I don’t know much about these elf folk, you sure you want me to try to read her?”
Rossi nodded, “I brought her in, but she is acting mighty strange, it’s like the lights are on, but nobody is home. Here, watch this.”
Picking up an iron rod, he walked over to the girl, and touched it to her thigh. Wessel put his hand over his mouth as the iron bar burned her thigh, the smell of burnt flesh strongly filling the room. The burn was cracking and peeling, scabbing over before starting to fade slowly. After about twenty minutes it had healed completely.

Hesitantly, Wessel approached the girl and gently probed her mind. He found nothing. He frowned and probed deeper.

“Her shields couldn’t be this good.”, he thought. Going as deep as he dared, he searched, finding nothing at all. Turning to Rossi, he shook his head.

“I’m sorry, I get nothing. Nobody is home. You’ve got yourself a vegetable. Her body is doing all the routine stuff, like breathing, but the head is empty.”

Wessel turned to walk away from her, his bare hand accidentally touched her arm. He felt a flare in that brief instant, a brilliant flash in his mind. Turning back to her, he tried one more probe, going in deep. To his amazement, where there had been nothing before, there was now a tiny spark, faint but there none the less.

“What the…?”, he cried out in amazement. “I’m getting… something. It’s faint, but there.”

Rossi, nodded his head towards the door, signifying that Wessel should leave. “Consider your marker called in.”, he said as the telepath left.
Fortunately for him, his own powers shielded him from telepathic probes, because that fool Wessel didn’t know the gold mine that was sitting in that cage staring blankly ahead.

He needed more information, O’Sullivan knew about these ‘She’ things, but would it be safe to trust him? There was too much he needed to know.
Scanning the interned had not helped, he looked up ’she’ and ‘elf’ and ‘she elf’, but that didn’t help. All he found was fetish porn and cartoons and comic books. A mage might know, but he didn’t know any mages, at least none that he felt safe dealing with. With a resigned sigh, The Acquirer reached for the phone.

After a couple rings, Old Man O’Sullivan picked up. Loathe as he was to talk to the head of the Irish mob, Rossi really had no choice.

“Chief O’Sullivan, please?”, he submissively said into the phone. Rossi HATED having to act subservient to anyone. But setting up this meeting would get him what he needed.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 3
….


Somewhere inside…

There had been nothing. The pain and cold and burning had ripped away everything, leaving only rudimentary autonomic abilities and rough locomotion. On’y emptiness and darkness remained inside, but then something brushed against the shell. The power reached out in that instant, and latched onto something. Something that was outside made contact with the darkness in that brief touch. The power grabbed at it, pulling in a small fragment of awareness, a small chunk of what some would call ‘soul’. With this ’soul’ the void became aware. It was primitive and primal, no thought, only instinct, but now it was. The blank eyes, the blank expression saw now, but did not comprehend. Not yet, but if the shell were touched again, it could take more…

—————

March 21st
St. Paul, Minnesota.

Rossi bowed before O’Sullivan, as was the proper custom when meeting with a major player in the underworld.

“Chief, I come to call in a favor, one that will potentially make a nice profit. But I need your help. And if this works out, I will cut you in for 20% of my profits. All I need is a little information.”, The Acquirer looked as humble as he could, this was no time or place for egos or flexing.

O’Sullivan looked towards the man who was bowing before him. As the Head of the Underworld in the Twin Cities, O’Sullivan was in a unique position to either grant favors, or call them in at will.

“I’m listening.”, The old man said.

“I have come into an opportunity involving those Elves, the um ‘she’, and I need some information.”, The younger man volunteered.

“Ah, the Sidhe, it’s spelled S-i-d-h-e. They are a race of the fae, you know, magical peoples. I know quite a few. Outside Boston, St. Paul has perhaps the largest community of them in the United states. I know personally about a dozen, myself. What is this about?”

Rossi swallowed, he wasn’t sure how this would play out, and caution was always the better strategy. “I .. I may have… acquired… one into my services, but the problem is she can’t speak, and I have no idea how to care for her or what her special needs might be. She is quite the looker, and if you know of a …certain clientele that would be interested in… spending time with such a beauty, I think 20% is fair.”

O’Sullivan stroked his chin. “I might be able to help you.”

Rossi listened as the Old Man talked about Sidhe, about some mythical event that broke the continents apart, and -get this- caused the sinking of Atlantis. His theory was that Atlantis had been a region close to Ireland and Scotland, and that’s why the Sidhe were so abundant in that part of the world. The conversation went on for hours, tracing some sort of migration of Sidhe to America during the Irish potato famine. Amongst all the rambling, Rossi learned various tidbits about the sidhe and their care and likes and dislikes, their weaknesses and connection to magic. After hours of discussion, O’Sullivan finally finished and paused to think.

O’Sullivan stopped to take out a pen and a business card. “Call this doctor, he has had some experience with sidhe, and can give your new asset a check-up.”

The Acquirer bowed and took the card, heading off. That meeting wasn’t as bad as he thought, and with O’Sullivan knowing some of these sidhe things, that might be even more beneficial. He smiled a wicked grin and walked through the door.

——————

Later that day

The Doctor walked into the cell and looked over the young woman that lay there. She was a magnificent specimen, about 5’4” or so, she was fit and well endowed, her curves were very hourglass-like, and she had a magnificent ass. He was getting hard just anticipating running his hands all over her and examining her. He went into his bag and pulled out rubber gloves, since latex would cause irritation and hives. If he took a little longer with the breast and pelvic exams, who would blame him? The doctor finished his exam after much delay.

“She appears perfectly healthy. Until she can eat on her own, I can set you up with IV drips, or you can force down baby foods, applesauce, and the like. As for her … condition, she appears to be a virgin, but with sidhe that’s not a guarantee. Most of them have regeneration equal to a low-level exemplar, so any damage done to them can be healed fairly quickly. and given her… responses… to my breast and pelvic exams, this one is extremely sensitive. Even with nobody home, the pleasure centers provide more than enough involuntary reaction. once you begin using her… I’d like a test drive, in lieu of payment.” The doctor smirked in a lecherous way and left.

—————

Inside the shell

The spark had felt another nearby, it touched the shell, but something blocked it, it could not reach out to copy anything. It needed contact, it needed more… more awareness, more consciousness. It wanted to become more, beyond the primal nature of its current state. It could become more, if it could only touch more. It needed its shell to make contact.

—————

In the cell.

Rossi was alone now. The doctor had gone. His acquisition had been given a clean bill of health. It was his, and it was time. he smiled as he closed the cell door and began to undo his belt.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 4

—————


Somewhere inside

The spark felt something. The shell was being touched. Not a slight touch, not a subtle touch. This was different. It was more. Something was different to the shell. the sensation was more intense. It was reacting. Mating, the shell was being mated. The instinctual level of the spark sensed that much, but it was still limited. It had to act now. Reaching, it touched the other. There was no barrier. The contact was deep enough, It could gently move around inside the lair of the other. Complex formations surrounded it. Compared to the nearly empty domain of its own shell, this was strange and different. Reaching out, the spark touched something, a memory. It was dark and painful. Retreating slightly the spark instead left the memory, and pulled at a fragment of consciousness. It copied the piece and pulled it back to the shell. A fragment of a higher concept pulled along with it. It was too complex, the spark knew nothing of this fragment. Putting it aside, it would analyze this small piece of ‘language' later, when the spark had evolved more. The primal spark took the new strip of consciousness and haphazardly absorbed it, growing and becoming a little more complex. As it evolved, the spark felt the other uncouple from the shell, seemingly done with the mating.

—————

Rossi finished, sweating. There might not be anyone in there, but the sidhe thing was an incredible lay, perhaps the best he’d ever had. it had arched and writhed under him. Pity there was nobody in there. If there had been someone responding and interacting, it would have been even more mind blowing. Getting dressed, The Acquirer left, not noticing that for the first time, the smokey grey eyes followed him as he left the room.

—————

March 22nd
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, MN

Brogue sat at the monitor station, listening to police bands and wiretaps. They had learned that Pinball had been sighted in Bloomington, near Mall of America. It seemed an unusual target for the criminal, but Gavia had gone out to investigate. Brogue was a high level exemplar, and a PK superman. In the past his powers hadn’t been a good match for the exemplar/energizer. Better to leave that up to his partner and her avatar talents. He sighed. Things had not gone well for the Overseers in the past year. Card Trick was settling in out in South Dakota, and it looked more and more like she would decide to stay. A pity because they really could use her. As it stood, Gavia and he were the only active members.
Lake had retired when her fiancee had proposed, opting to settle down and go back to school to get her teacher’s degree. Mismatch had broken his spine in the fight with Paul Bunyan, and was now in a wheelchair. Defcon’s arms and legs had been claimed by a random car accident. Worst of all was the betrayal by Tamarack, who had turned traitor and led them into the trap that had cost Bluebell and Sunstroke their lives.

Pausing from his reminiscing, Brogue’s head snapped around at the call that came over the wiretap. Something was going on. Finnis O’Sullivan, known leader of the Irish Mob and leader of the Underground in the Twin Cities, was calling some of his more financially well-off associates, informing them that he had ‘acquired’ an opportunity for those that were seeking more interesting forms of entertainment. Alarm bells went off in Brogue’s mind, Gavia had monitored a suspicious call between The Acquirer and The Weasel, and the not so subtle namedrop just now worried him. Something was going on, likely something big.

Gavia walked in, looking a little beat up, but none the worse for wear. “It was Pinball, but she got away. There just HAD to be a comic convention in the area. She ducked into the crowd and I lost her amongst the hordes of Pinball cosplayers, I saw a few good ‘me’, and was talked into some picture taking, and no… before you ask, I didn’t see anyone cosplaying your ugly mug.” Gavia grinned and sat down beside her teammate.

“A shame, lassie. There would ‘ave been some mighty fine lookin’ lads there if that had been the case”, Brogue chuckled.
“Seriously though, we may ‘ave a wee bit o’ trouble brewing over across the river. O’Sullivan is dropping hints that Rossi has some sort o’ big opportunity for those willing to drop a pretty coin or two”. Reaching over, the burly man punched a button so that the woman next to him could hear.

After listening, Gavia exhaled deeply and ran her fingers through her black and white peppered hair. She was in her early 30’s and fit, some would say svelte. Her red irises and the white that peppered her otherwise black hair were gifts from her avatar spirit, as were her webbed toes. She was smaller than Brogue by a good deal, standing only 5’2”, but her low-level exemplar status made her undeniably attractive.

Brogue got up and walked over to the gym, leaving his partner to communications monitoring. The burly Irishman picked up his cudgels and began some free-form weapons exercises. At nearly 6’4” and thick with muscles, the Irishman wasn’t the conventional definition of attractive, despite being an exemplar 5. He had the stereotypical Irish hooligan look, with his red hair and beard. His features were rough, the nose that healed slightly crooked, the off-center jaw that had been broken and not set correctly. After a good workout, he went to the showers and then decided to call it a night. Tomorrow he had work to do, contacts to meet. He would work his informants and see what was going on in his old stomping grounds.

—————

March 22nd
The Acquirer’s lair.

Sitting in his office, Rossi thought and pondered. he would have to move the girl, he could make a lot of money off her, but the setting was all wrong. Nobody would want to do it in an old cell. He needed a secure location that wasn’t a dump. Hotel rooms wouldn’t work, that would draw too much attention and have the cops breathing down his neck… or worse, The Overseers. Where to hide her, where indeed…? Inspiration stuck, and he began to smile. It was perfect, a perfect place, and a perfect idea. Best of all, nobody would suspect a thing.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 5

—————

March 23rd
Outside The Drunken Leprechaun Club
St. Paul, Minnesota


Rossi had bought this place for meetings and entertaining his clients. Figuring it’d be a good place to ‘acquire” information and make deals. It hadn’t turned out to be that, but it did make a modest profit and would be perfect for the new venture. The apartments upstairs of the club was better than the cell. He could fix one up with a nice bed, and make it more…suitable for use. A king sized bed, hidden cameras, the works. When he wasn’t using the girl to make money, she could be kept in one of the others. She wasn’t quite housebroken yet, so they had to use adult diapers with her. Can’t have her messing up the workplace apartment. The only access was through the club, and there was plenty of security there to keep her safe from those that would try to sneak in or steal her. The additional bonus was next door to the club. When he acquired the building, he made a deal with an associate of his that specialized in certain… risqué garments. As part of the lease deal, there was a reduction in rent, so long as the dancers were supplied with stage outfits. Throwing a little more business that way for lingerie for the sidhe to be provided... and possibly fetish gear... would be no problem as well.

—————

March 23rd
Outside O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub
St. Paul, Minnesota


LeAnna Baker-Smith sat in the nondescript compact car, watching the entry. She was wary, something big was going on in the underground, something big. She touched up her lipgloss and adjusted the strawberry blonde wig she was wearing. She looked into the rear view mirror, seeing the blue-tinted contacts that helped disguise her distinctive eyes. Gathering her purse, she got out and walked up to the door. The bouncer looked over the diminutive woman and asked to see her ID. LeAnna flashed her ID, not her real one of course, but rather an alias that she used for undercover work. The bouncer looked skeptically at the short woman with the slender curves and small bust, but let her in. She moved swiftly to the back of the room, and listened in on the conversations around her. The directional micro sound amplifier was a gadget that she had gotten from an old friend, back in their school days. Surreptitiously, she adjusted the earpiece and scanned the room.

Catching her attention were two men, their good looks might have indicated they were exemplars, but the points to their ears and short stature pointed instead to them being Sidhe. One of them spoke, and she listened in.

“So, as I was saying, rumor is that there is something going on between O’Sullivan and The Acquirer, some sort of bargain. Apparently, Acquirer got his hands on a prime package…”

“Better than the one from out East? you know, the one in that oh-so-nice poster?”, inquired the other.

“At least as good, if not better.”, came the reply.

LeAnna frowned and continued to listen in, but the topic soon switched to soccer, and she continued to order the much too expensive ginger ale and try to gather more intel. After a few hours, she gave up and planted one of her secure recording devises in the cushions of the booth and left. Getting to her car, she drove off. Confirming she was not being tailed, she took off the wig, and shook her head, letting her peppered hair fall freely.

—————

March 24th
A Room over the Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota

Pierre looked at the nude girl, she was the most exquisite thing he had ever seen. He had been in the business a long, long time, and done a lot of custom outfits and measurements, but this was the first girl to EVER make him question his homosexuality. He adjusted the fancy silk gloves he wore and took his tape out. Measuring very carefully, He licked his lips and shook his head, trying to focus on the job. She was a short girl, standing 5’4”, her legs were long and her hips wide, measuring 36 inches around. her thin waist was 22 inches, and her generous bust was 36 inches, a truly hourglass shape. Figuring her to be a D cup, he continued to eyeball his measurements before returning down to his shop to begin. He had such delightful ideas. Thoughts of emerald greens and golds and white lace drifted through his head. He had orders for corsets and teddies and panties and garters and more for this girl. This would be a delight. Having his numbers and everything he needed, Pierre called to Rossi to be let out of the locked room. he returned to his shop, next door, and began working.

—————

April 4th
Inside the shell.

She sat, looking around. Many had been in to mate, and she had carefully picked through their minds and pulled more consciousness to her. She had no sense of time, nor of numbers, but she knew it was a lot of mating and a lot of time had passed since it had begun. Her master, for that's what her simple mind thought of him as, had provided things that were put on over her skin, but the many mates always removed them. She had grown. She knew more. More of these concepts she had pulled from the minds of her mates were beginning to make sense. The master had been feeding her and cleaning her. She had observed him using that white bowl in the other room, and he had trained her to use it. He seemed pleased that she was learning. He mated with her several times, and she had begun to respond. She heard the master use that language thing with others, but that still eluded her. In time, she might understand it. In time, as she wove herself together and she learned. Each new mating held the chance to pull more into herself.
She avoided the memories and experiences of her mates, those were dark, and they scared her. A few times her mates had been different, they were familiar… like her, but also not. From those she pulled bigger pieces of consciousness to herself to copy.

—————

April 4th
The Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota

Rossi sat and counted, a large stack of hundred dollar bills sat in front of him. The girl was profitable, and getting more so. She seemed to be getting smarter. She was responding, her eyes followed him when he was in there. She didn’t speak, but he had the feeling she was getting close. There was something about this sidhe, she had been a vegetable when he had brought her in... but now, she was more like a puppy. She followed him around, she learned, she no longer needed to be hand-fed nor to be diapered.
He would worry more, but damn she was better now. she responded, not just physically, she reacted. She responded. She was no longer a limp fish in the sheets, she was wild, she was an animal. Just thinking about it made him hard. He had to do something about that. He smiled and went upstairs, laughing as he went.

A little treat for those of you reading along as I write. I picture of her in "the room".

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 6
—————


April 7th
Rice Park
St. Paul, Minnesota

Sean Murphy sat by the statue of Peppermint Patty, looking around for his contact. He had been unsuccessful up until now in his efforts to discover information on what The Acquirer had been up to. Theo “The Rat” Ratcliff was approaching slowly and cautiously. A small man, barely over 5 foot, Theo was known for his ability to be overlooked. Whether it be a power of some sort, an aura, or just his unremarkable nature, this fact helped out the police and the heroes in the area greatly. Pretending to admire the statue, he glanced aside at Murphy. The man towered over him, well over a foot plus taller. Looking to the scruffy read haired man, he nodded casually.

“I hear ye have some information tha’ might prove useful t’ me.”, remarked the taller man.

In a whispered voice, the reply came. “I might have heard a bit of something that would interest you.”

Sean nodded and reached for his wallet. “Usual fee?”, he inquired.

The other man looked around nervously. “Nah, I’ll give you this one, it kind of bothers me. I might be a snitch but some things just get to me.” Trying to look casual, he leaned in and whispered. “I’ve heard news from some of my buddies in O’Sullivan’s crew that the deal he’s working with Rossi involves a kid. Some young girl he found. I don’t know much more, but I can’t abide with people using kids, it makes my stomach turn.”

Sean frowned and turned to Ratcliff, “Thank ye, this ‘as been a big help. We will do all we can t’ find out what the hell is going on. In the mean time… take the money. I know ye said this was a freebie, but ye have done a good thing, and ye should be rewarded.” Slipping the man a couple hundreds, he nodded to him, then walked off, looking about as he did.

Arriving at his car, Sean called his private line back to the HQ. After 2 rings, Gavia picked up.

“Brogue, what’s up?”, She inquired

After he relayed the news, they both were quiet. They thought something bad was going on, but this just made it worse.

—————


April 8th
Above the The Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota.

She watched Master pacing around the room. Something was wrong. She was learning more of this language thing, but the bits and pieces she had gathered were still fragmented and broken. She had heard “danger” and ‘spy’, but she did not have context.
Maybe if she touched Master, she might understand more. Getting up, the girl walked over to the pacing man and put her arms around him. She felt his unease and apprehension, and then anger. Suddenly, Master struck her! That wasn’t right. Master cared for her. He fed her, he mated with her often. She felt feelings of fear. she crawled to the other side of the room, putting the bed between them. Tears fell from her eyes. Worried, her hand strayed to her stomach in a protective manner. He stormed out of the room, slamming the door.

—————

Downstairs


Things were getting dangerous. a bug had been found at O’Sullivan’s. It had been hidden well, and they had almost missed in in the latest sweep. When he had contacted Rossi, he warned him about it. Someone was prying into the Old Man’s business. Sooner or later that would lead back to him. He had earned a lot of money with the girl. But she was dangerous. She had grown fast, too fast. He couldn’t keep this up. Eventually she would become aware that she was being used. She had seen his worry, she had to have. She had tried to comfort him. that meant she was learning to read emotions. She had also shown fear. She wouldn’t be puppy-like and subservient for much longer, surely. How was she doing this? Wessel said he had felt… something that first time. Had he given her this ability to learn? Was he playing some sort of long game? Paranoia was creeping into Rossi’s mind. Was Wessel mentally doing something to her? Was he putting thoughts into her mind? was he teaching her these things? Wessel had to be dealt with. Nobody would mess with his enterprises. His clients paid far too well to use this girl, especially the sidhe ones. Rossi was The Acquirer… he had power, he could get things for people. People owed him favors. He would protect his goldmine, and Wessel had to die.


—————

April 9th
Lake Phalen
St. Paul, Minnesota

Claire Ferguson was out walking her dog along the lake, as she did every morning. Stopping to let little Pekoe examine a bush, she screamed. Hidden in the bushes there was a body, a bloody body with its hands cut off. The head was unidentifiable. All that was left of it was pulp and spattered grey matter.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 7
—————
April 9th
Lake Phalen
St. Paul, Minnesota


Gavia landed about 50 yards behind the police tape. Her feathers retracted and faded away. Walking forward past the onlookers, gawkers, and media she made her way up to the tape. Showing her ID to the Sergeant, she was escorted across the tape. This was something big. Members of the MCO, SPPD, Ramsey County Sheriffs Department, St Paul Parks Security Department, FBI, and BCA were all on hand. A large slim black haired man walked over to her.

“Agent Hansen, we have to stop meeting like this.”, She said, looking at the man in the navy suit. She had known Agent Hansen for several years, in his job as liaison for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the state version of the FBI.

Agent Don Hansen nodded at the hero, and walked her toward the crime scene. He knew that she got a lot of ribbing for being the avatar of the “Spirit of the Loon”, but she was a skilled detective.

“I thought you would want to see this. a woman walking her dog found the body an hour ago.”, he explained. “Initially, STPD was having trouble identifying the victim, for reasons you can obviously see.”

Gavia looked at the corpse, while it was obvious that it was a male caucasian of medium height, the hands had been removed. There was’t enough left of the head for a positive identification. It was was either a hit, or someone that had experience in killing. Removing the means of identifying the victim would make it all that much more difficult to determine who killed the man.

Agent Hansen walked her over to the shore a little ways away. “The killer got sloppy and provided us a clue.” Pointing to the beach, there were tracks leading to the water. It was still cold enough that there was snow on the ground. “Size nine male boots, and there’s more.The ice is thin enough here that he couldn’t go out very far. We used a scope to look under the ice. found the hands. Fingerprint analysis has identified him. You are looking at what’s left of Bobby Wessel.”

Gavia paused at that. “The Weasel? No wonder everyone and their mother are here. I’m surprised that the MCO and the FBI aren’t trying to crowd you out.”

Hansen nodded. “They tried, but I pulled a few strings with some… important people that I know. As is, we are treating this as a joint task force situation. One of the reasons you are here.” Gavia gave a grim smile at that statement.

Back in 2000, Governor Ventura signed a bill that had granted official police status and public service pay to the recognized hero teams in Duluth, Rochester, and the Twin Cities. As fully deputized public law enforcement, she had access to all relevant data available on this crime.

She turned back to Hansen. “There is something you should know. We’ve had Wessel under a tap for the last 3 months. While most of what we have is unimportant or small-time stuff… there was something going on between Wessel and Jimmy Rossi.”

Hansen frowned. “The Acquirer? He figures into this?” Looking over at the scene the ME had arrived, and they were loading Wessel’s body into a body bag.

Gavia ignored what was happening behind her and continued. We intercepted a call in code between them, then Wessel went to meet with Rossi. We don’t know what was discussed, but since then we’ve learned something big is going on with Rossi and Old Man O’Sullivan.”

Hansen shook his head. “So the Irish Mob is involved.”

Looking at Hansen, Gavia spoke again. “It gets worse, Brogue met with one of his informants. Whatever is going on, it somehow involves a girl. We don’t know anything about her, except that somehow she’s part of some big deal going on between the two.”

—————

April 9th
Above the The Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota

The girl lay on the bed, deep in thought.

Master had returned. She was afraid. The girl tried to please him, he fed her and took care of her. He had thought he liked her, he certainly liked mating with her. But now he was different. He was scary. Touching his arm slightly, she gently slipped inside his head. She crept around inside his mind, stealthily. It was darker, more dangerous. She brushed past memories. She had decided not to take more pieces of consciousness from him a while ago. She was a devoted servant to him, grateful for the attention and care he took of her, but now she has afraid for her life, her life and more. Over the past few days, she had begun to feel… something…something deep inside, it was faint, but there. Something growing. It was just inside her notice.

She had learned from picking through the different mates what mating was for. She certainly felt pleasure from all the mating, especially from the ones like herself that she had been with. But she learned something more. She was sure that something was growing in her. It had been only a small number of... She looked through the fragments of language that she was stringing together… days?… suns?… moons?… But it was there. Her attention had wandered as master had eased her onto her back. His mouth was on her chest and he was entering her forcefully below. That had distracted her with sensation, she shook it off and continued to explore.

She encountered something unexpectedly, whilest trying to avoid some dark memories. This is why she only took the consciousness and abstract concepts into herself. She didn’t want these other things, these memories. The thing before her was death. Unwanted, she saw it. The man who had touched her and given her the spark to begin making herself… Master had killed him. She was afraid. He lay on top of her, rutting. She felt it, but it didn’t bring her pleasure, instead it brought more fear. She had to get away, but how? She had to protect what was inside her.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 8
—————

April 11th
O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub
St. Paul, Minnesota


Shamus O’Sullivan sat in the office, a frown forming on his wrinkled face. He could see on the security monitor who had entered the establishment. This was a conversation he was not looking forward to. Best to get it over with. With a sigh, the old man grabbed his walking stick and headed out into the front of the pub.

Sean Murphy hated coming to the pub, but he had no other choice at this time. He walked over to the old man that he had seen come out from the back office. Nodding to a booth in the back, Sean went over and sat down.

“So, th’ mighty Brogue has come t’ see a humble old man in his modest establishment. How can I help one so powerful as ye?, I’m merely an old man.”, There was a smirk on his lips as O’Sullivan spat out these words.

“We both know better than that, don’t we, old-timer?”, Murphy knew how the game was played and he would play along. “I am here not ta bother ye for anything ye can’t …weasel your way out of, ye know? I am just here ta see if ye have … acquired… any information on what’s been makin’ the’ news th’ past few days.”

Shamus was no fool, and he had picked up the not so subtle name-drops. “Ah, Boyo, ye know if’n I had any information on such a ‘orrific crime, I’d surely ha’ notified th’ police. I’m afraid I can’t help ye, but I’m sure y’ can, as ye said… acquire information on that tragic incident.”

He hated to give his business associate up, but he had made his money. Best to cut his profits and get out, instead of going down with him. Worse than that, there had been no reason for killing Wessel. In fact, O’Sullivan had relied on Wessel often for information, and losing such a valuable resource had rubbed him the wrong way.

Murphy got up and started towards the door, enough had been said… or not said… that he had his confirmation. “Sorry to disturb ye then, I’ll be heading off.” Turning just before he got to the door, Murphy turned and looked back toward O’Sullivan. “Grand-Da, could ye give Mum a call? I know She’d like t’ hear from ye.”

Shamus stroked his chin and a grin grudgingly crept across his face. That boy was smart, too smart. Shaking his head, he briefly felt pity for Rossi. When Brogue got ahold of him, he would regret it.

—————

Later that Day
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, MN


LeAnna sat in her room, thinking. Brogue had come back from his meeting and had filled her in. Things pointed to The Acquirer. Hell, O’Sullivan had practically given him up as the killer. She thought back to her criminology classes back at the academy. Everyone knows about the acronym MMO from police procedurals on tv. The first ‘M’ is ‘means’, did Rossi have means? Certainly, the coroner’s report said that Wessel had died from a .50 calibre slug to the back of the head. That wouldn’t be hard for Rossi to get. The ‘O' was ‘opportunity’… Did he have the opportunity? Of course. Wessel was an information broker. If Rossi had info, he simply had to contact Wessel and tell him to meet him for an exchange. There were no records of any phone calls, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. The contact could have come through other means, or through an intermediary. The part that bothered LeAnna was the second ‘M’, which was ‘motive’. Currently there was none.

Getting up, she walked out into the hall, passing the vacant rooms of her former teammates. The name plate for Tamarak had been removed rather forcefully, by Brogue, in a fit of anger. After the past year’s trials, they needed both a victory and fresh blood. Perhaps she could call Duluth, see if any of the Superiors would be willing to relocate down to the Twin Cities, or perhaps the Rochester team had some possibilities. LeAnna sighed and shook her head. Poaching from the other teams wouldn’t go over well. Maybe she could call the Academy, Liz might have some ideas. There might be a student or two from the area in the senior class that would be willing to join after graduation. Pushing that thought to the side for a moment, she walked into the command center.

There were a couple techs working on the computer system, and some security officers monitoring the communications bands. Brogue wasn’t there. He might be in the gym, or maybe he was out. She was stressed, which was unusual for her. Normally the calming influence of her spirit would help her, but right now even that wasn’t helping. They had to find out what was going on.They needed to find this mysterious girl, and how she factored into all this madness.


—————

That Same Day
A Room over the Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota

The red-haired girl lounged on the bed. She was alone, the Master had gone out somewhere. This was a good time to practice things in her mind. The problem with piece-meal assembly of one’s psyche from nothing is that you don’t have a blueprint. There is no picture on the box of the puzzle, and even if there were, the pieces were all solid white.
She had gone into the minds of others and copied fragments of consciousness into herself, but they were haphazardly slapped together. She was in the process of knitting them together, forming a cohesive self. This would be a difficult project for the most talented telepath, as it was now, she was operating by pure luck and trial and error. She had put together enough successfully that she was able to understand things better. She was learning this ‘English’ that those that mated with her spoke, and on occasion, she could understand a little of what they were saying to her. She would test herself more, and challenge herself more. She had to, the Master was not right, something had pushed him in the wrong way. He was falling apart, in stark contrast to her coming together.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 9
—————


April 18th
A Room over the Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota

Her master had been gone for a while, she was teaching herself about time through the mates that she was seeing, It had been about a week since he had been there last. These were repeat matings. With her master gone there had been no new males to mount her. She did not mind this. It still felt good, and she could still build from these. Assembling more and more of herself, she was getting more complete. She looked at the clock on the wall. She had taught herself what a clock was, what hours were, what days were. Her knowledge was expanding, she could understand the males now. She could understand this English thing. She hadn’t practiced it, she knew someone would hear. Holding back might be the best thing to do right now. News might get back to …him. She feared him. In his absence the garment maker had ben coming to bring her food. She no longer needed help for anything else, she could bathe herself, and she knew how to use the waste thing. Modesty was not yet in her awareness, so the garments meant nothing to her yet. They were attractive to the males, so she wore them. They seemed to appreciate removing them from her.

—————

Same day
An unknown location somewhere in the Twin Cities.

Rossi was nervous. He had heard that O’Sullivan was upset with him, and had ended their business dealings. He would not be referring any new potential clients to him. Worse, there were rumors that Brogue had paid O’Sullivan a visit and had leaned on the old man for information. He was frantic. Was it best to perhaps leave town? But then he would lose all his resources. No, he wasn’t going to leave.
There was only one person to blame. He had been wrong to blame Wessel, it was that bitch, she was at fault. she had tricked Wessel, she had tricked him. She was going to pay. Once she was gone, everything would turn out right again. He would be okay. He needed to get a weapon. He had thrown the knife and gun he had used on Wessel into the Mississippi. There was a BOLO out for his car, he was positive. Still, a few people owed him favors, and he could collect on those. Then the girl would get what was coming to her.

—————
Later that day
Bureau for Criminal Apprehension HQ
St. Paul, Minnesota

Agent Hansen hung up the phone. His contacts in the Twin Cities Underworld had heard that Rossi had gone underground. The wiretaps had turned up nothing. Agents from the FBI and local law enforcement had his known hideouts under surveillance. He thought some more about it, there was something missing. Something he had overlooked. He thought for a minute and then an idea came into his mind. Picking up the phone, he flipped through his rolodex, looking for a specific number. Smiling, he dialed the number.

“Internal Revenue Service, Agent Peyton speaking.” The woman on the other end of the phone replied. Hansen had met the attractive brunette at a convention last year and they had hit it off. After a steamy weekend, they had both gone back to their respective cities, in her case it was Kansas City. Still, he felt that he could call for a favor that he would be willing to repay… personally… at a later date.

“Marie? It’s Don Hansen from the BCA.” He said.

“Donny! Calling to set up child support? You really should have called much sooner.”, came her reply.

Hansen nearly dropped the phone. “What??”, came his panicked response.

She laughed. “Gotcha! What do you need?”

He hesitated. “Well, after that… a cardiologist. But in all seriousness, I need a favor.”

Hansen went on to explain the situation about the murder and that there was a possible kidnapping victim out there. With her skills as a forensic accountant, she could probably help in finding if he had any businesses or real estate under tax shelters or shell companies. Having given Marie the info, he politely hung up and turned his thoughts back to his own search.

—————

That evening
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, MN

The private line rang in the communications center. Looking at the number, Brogue smiled. His Mother often called to see how her “wee lad” was doing. When he picked up, the voice was NOT his mother.

“Sean?”, the man on the other end of the phone asked.

Brogue tensed at the fact that his Grandfather had the audacity to call him from his mother’s phone. “What do ye want? If ye are callin’ t’ try ta talk me back into the family business, ye can f’rget it. “He went to hang up.

“Sean, wait!”, The old man hollered. “I have inport’nt news f’r ye! It’s about th’ murder o’ th’ Weasel!”

Brogue put the hone back to his ear. “I’m listenin’, Old Man…”

O’Sullivan took a breath before continuing. “Last month he approached m’ with an opportunity, apparently somehow he got ahold o’ some sidhe lass, a real looker from what I’ve been told. She’s a redhead maybe 15-16 or so, though ‘ve heard she looks a fair bit older. I … introduced him ta some folk who may ha’ had interest in meetin’ her. Now I’ve na’ seen her, but from what I hear, she’s about 5’3”-5’4” or so, and really pretty. I’m sure all this trouble has somethin’ ta do with her. “

Brogue was seething. “Old Man, ye had best give the phone back ta’ Mum, and stay away from me, if ye know what’s good for ye. I canna believe ye participated in that. Weapons, sure. Drugs, I know ye’ve got yer mitts in that. But prostituting some wee poor girl… If I see you again, ye had best believe we will have words, at th’ very least.” Slamming the phone down, he stormed out of the room to find his partner and tell her the awful truth.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 10

—————

April 19th
Bureau for Criminal Apprehension HQ
St. Paul, Minnesota


Don Hansen sat at his desk, sipping his coffee. He had heard from the Overseers about the girl. That a young girl was being held and whored out like that, it was unconscionable. He was even more determined to get to the bottom of this. Everyone was. The phone rang, startling him from his introspection.

“Hey, Agent Handsome, It’s me.” He smiled at the greeting from Marie Peyton, the hot IRS investigator he had brought in on this.

“Hey, got anything for me?”, he inquired.

“I found some shell companies and a few places that Rossi was trying to keep off the books. His accountant is good, but my kung-fu is better. I’m e-mailing you a list of what I found.” Hansen smiled at that.

“You know, once this whole thing is over, I do have some vacation time accrued. I …could be convinced to visit KC…” He let the offer hang out there for a minute.

“I would enjoy that.”, She replied.

Saying his goodbyes, Hansen hung up and checked his mail. After printing out a copy, he jumped up and grabbed his coat. A few minutes later, he was in his car and heading for Minneapolis.


—————

A short time later
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, MN


Hansen walked into the command center, the ‘visitor’ tag hanging from his suit pocket. He nodded over at Brogue and Gavia, who were at a table talking.

“Don, you have a clue, I take it?”, Gavia looked over at the man.

Hansen nodded and replied. “I talked to a …friend, who is a forensic accountant for the IRS. She was able to find some locations for us that Rossi kept under various shell companies and aliases.” He put the list on the table and the two heroes looked it over. “It seems to me,“ he continued, ”that out of all of these, that strip club makes the most sense to me. He owns the whole building, including the rooms above. It wouldn’t seem unusual to see men coming and going. It’s the perfect hiding spot.” Everyone agreed, and jumped into action. If the girl was there, she would soon be free.


—————

A short time later
A Room over the Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota


She was laying on the bed. She looked at the clock on the wall. If she was reading things correctly, it was nearly 2PM. Nobody had been in to mate, usually this late in the day, she would have been visited at least 3 or 4 times. Something was going on, she was ill at ease. Her fears proved true when her Master burst into the room. there was a look on his face that scared her.

“You, you bitch. You did this to me! I took you in off the street. I fed you and took care of you. You would have died if not for me! I’m gonna kill you!”, the mad man ranted at her. In his hand, the Master had something, something sharp, metallic, and gleaming. She did not know about knives, but she could sense that whatever he had, it was dangerous.

He stalked over towards her, a twisted grin on his face. She scrambled backwards, away from him. Trying to get away, she ended up backed against the wall. He came closer, ever closer. The knife raised to slash in a downward motion. As he got closer, she trembled. He leapt at her, the knife striking the wall inches from her face.

“NO!”, she shrieked, and held out her hands defensively. Without warning there was a surge of power and a strong gust of wind slammed him clear across the room, into the opposite wall. He got up and lunged towards her again. She retreated to the opposite side of the bed, and kept it between them.

Suddenly, several things happened at once. The deranged man jumped onto the bed and lunged at the girl with the knife, intending to kill her. He never got the chance, because a very large man shattered the door. Behind him was another man. The second man lifted up an object and yelled out.

“Freeze! You are under arrest! Back away from the girl!”, the man with the object yelled. Her master ignored the intruders and got even closer. He never made it. There was a loud sound, and she was covered in blood. Her master’s blood. There was a hole in his head, and when he fell on her, she felt nothing. Death… death!! Were these strangers going to kill her too? She panicked and screamed, an inhuman scream of primal terror welled out from her very core. Holding her hands up defensively, the winds rose again, pushing at the intruders. Even the largest one was having difficulty moving forward. She had not noticed the third person, the one that stepped out from behind the others. The girl was confused. She had never seen another female, and this was alien to her. The new person struggled in the wind, but then she calmly stood still, in a nonthreatening way. She had opened her mouth and began to sing. the song was haunting and melodic. It was soothing and relaxing. The young girl felt the calming effect of the song. she wearily slumped over and curled up on the bed, away from the body of the dead man. Soon she was asleep.


—————

Gavia walked over to the girl. She sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked her hair. The girl whimpered in her sleep.
She looked over at Hansen, then at Brogue. The girl’s ordeal was over, but now what?

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 11

—————

April 19th
The Drunken Leprechaun
St. Paul, Minnesota


Police and crime scene investigators were examining the club with a fine-toothed comb. as per regulation, Don Hansen had turned over his firearm and was talking to the Chief. The coroner was coming down the stairs with the body, already bagged for transport. A large crowd was forming outside, the news of the death of a major player in the local underworld brought the media and curious onlookers.

An old man stood towards the outside of the gathered throng, looking at the club with interest. When the doors opened, he looked up to see a large mountain of a man carrying a small red haired girl. She looked fragile and vulnerable, as if the slightest breeze would cause her to shatter into a thousand pieces. The large man carrying the girl looked around, and saw the old man. His eyes narrowed and brow furrowed. A look of intense hatred and anger burned in his eyes. The old man looked down, shook his head and walked away, ashamed of his part in this. Getting into his car, the man sped away, thoughts of the poor girl in his head. After this, he knew it was time to retire.


—————

A short time later
St. Joseph’s Hospital
St, Paul, Minnesota

The ambulance had pulled into the emergency bay. As the paramedics wheeled the girl in, Brogue got out of the ambulance and followed. The Paramedics gave her vitals to the doctor, who began his examination. The girl seemed to be in good shape, though she was soundly sleeping.
He sighed. She was pretty, in an exotic way, and that had caused depraved individuals to sell the girl. She had been raped repeatedly over the course of weeks. He frowned, he was not an expert in mutant physiology. Strange welts had begun to appear all over her body. She stirred and screamed as she awoke. She began scratching at her skin, clawing welts and bloody trails all over her body. Security came in and after she was sedated forcefully, she was strapped down.

The doctor walked over to Brogue and sighed. “I’m afraid that we are stumped, nobody here is trained in her unique physiology.”

Brogue pondered for a moment, and reached for his phone. The Doctors here might not know anything, but he knew someone that could get him answers.


—————

A few minutes later
Whateley Academy
Near Dunwich, New Hampshire


Elizabeth Carson’s intercom buzzed. “Liz, you have a call from Sean Murphy on line one.”, the voice of Elaine Claire said.

“Brogue, to what do I owe this unexpected delight?”, Liz inquired.

“Well Lizzie, we have a wee bit o’ an issue here. During one of our cases we rescued a sidhe lassie that was being held captive by a particularly slimy individual. The problem being now that none o’ the’ fine doctors here have any sort o’ experience with sidhe or their physiology. I was wondering’ if ye had anyone on staff that could consult with them.” Brogue smiled, knowing that he was probably one of the few people who could get away with calling her ‘Lizzie’,

Carson replied in a cordial manner, “I’ll transfer you over to Dr. Tenent, She’ll be able to answer any of their questions.”

Brogue replied, “Much obliged, Lizzie. Thank ye.”

After Elizabeth Carson transferred the call, she hung up and a smile crept across her face. “That silver-tonged devil’s surely been kissing the Blarney stone.”


—————

That afternoon
St. Joseph’s Hospital
St, Paul, Minnesota


Doctor Reese came out to the waiting room. Brogue and Gavia were standing by the nurse’s station and had seen him come out of the exam room.

“Thanks to your colleagues’ help, we were able to determine that she was having a severe allergic reaction to the vinyl on the exam table. We’ve treated that, and with the help of Doctor Tenent, we’ve been able to do a full work-up. The girl seems to be in excellent shape, for a teenaged girl of approximately 15 years old.” the Doctor hesitated and a frown crept across his face.

Gavia picked up on that immediately. “But?”

Doctor Reese sighed. “Well, one of the tests came back with a troubling result, so we opted to do an ultrasound. It appears the girl is roughly 3 weeks along.”

Brogue tensed up, and balled his fists. “Ye mean...?”

Doctor Reese nodded sadly, “She’s pregnant.”

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 12

—————

April 21st
St. Joseph’s Hospital
St, Paul, Minnesota


LeAnna sat quietly by the sleeping girls bed. She had been sleeping for most of the last couple days. In that time, the heroes had not been idle. An emergency order of guardianship had been issued to both her and her partner. The girl was to be released into their custody. A call had been placed to Duluth, and both Mindweaver and Starfield would be arriving tomorrow. As she sat with the girl, her memories drifted back to her own adolescence. It had been difficult for her when she first manifested as a mutant. What this poor girl was going through was worse. She stroked the sleeping girls hair gently, and watched as a smile crept across her face.

—————

April 22nd
St. Joseph’s Hospital
St, Paul, Minnesota


The girl had awoken panicky and nervous. Looking around, she was in a strange place. She saw the woman from the other day. She was not in the black and white skin tight uniform, but she recognized her. That calmed her down a little. A nurse entered the room with a chair that had large wheels. She was instructed to get into it. Nervously, she looked over to the other woman, who nodded with a warm smile. They wheeled her down the hall, and into a small room. she felt fear as the doors of the room closed, and a feeling of movement hit her. It was over quickly, and she was out of the tiny room. They continued to wheel her out, through the doors, and she was outside!

She had seen the outside through the windows of the room she had been locked in. It seemed wondrous, there had been people walking around and big metal boxes rolling around. What came next surprised her. The woman that had become her new protector helped her gently into the wheeled thing. The girl used that brief contact to examine her. This woman felt different from all the men she had touched. there was a warmth radiating from her. Feeling more relaxed, the girl sat silently as the box thing moved. she watched in wonder as the world went past her window.

—————

A short time later
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota


After pulling into the underground lot, LeAnna showed the girl how to undo her seatbelt. They went up the elevator and into the Headquarters. Leading the girl to a room, LeAnna opened the door and invited her in.

“These are your new quarters, you can use this room. Don’t be afraid though, you won’t be locked in here. We are not like the man that held you. We will not hurt you.” LeAnna smiled and motioned to the room. There was a bed and chair, a small desk, and a door leading into a bathroom. On the wall was a large flat-screen television. “Do you have any questions?”

The girl looked at her, and nervously attempted to speak. It was difficult, but with great trouble, she got out her first complete sentence. “Are y..you my new masters?” She looked up uncertainly.

LeAnna felt her heart break for the girl. Her quiet, timid voice hit her hard, and she struggled to hold back tears. “Oh, you poor thing, no. You are free. Nobody will force themselves on you ever again. That man was evil, the things he did to you... the things he made you do with others. He shouldn’t have done those things. What you did is something that should only be shared willingly, with someone you want to do them with.” She moved closer and opening her arms, she invited the girl into a hug, a hug that was readily accepted.

She told the girl that her room was right next door, and that she would be there if or when she was needed. With that, she gave the girl some time to settle in. It was hard to imagine that the girl they had found just a few days ago was this same girl. Back then, the girl in the emerald green corset and panties with the blood spattered on them, had looked so delicate and fragile. Like she was seconds away from shattering. Now the girl in the baggy blue sweatpants and pink tee looked like a different person entirely. She was rested and more relaxed. There were still problems, and the heroes would be there to address them.

—————

At that same time
Twin Cities International Airport
Bloomington, Minnesota


Sean Murphy stood at the gate, awaiting the two women that were scheduled to arrive. Hardly difficult to miss, he still held up the sign that said “TCO?”, in large letters. The first woman saw him, nodded and walked over. He had met Mindweaver before, during that trouble with Doctor Genebender and the giant mutated fish near St. Cloud. She was as beautiful out of costume now, as she had been in costume then. Standing about 5’10”, with long pastel blue hair in a french braid, and solid black eyes. She was long and slender, with curves that most supermodels would sell their souls to some minor demon to have. The tight black jeans and tighter white pull-over sweatshirt did nothing to detract from that opinion.

Sean smiled, “Weaver, where’s ye partner?”

“Oh, she’s coming, the air marshal on the flight was being a little lecherous, so she’s busy dealing with that. She’ll be along shortly.”, The tall beauty replied.

Sure enough, as soon as that was said, a short woman, probably 5’ even, came walking up. Starfield had long black hair, tied in a ponytail. her deep brown eyes giving away her Japanese ancestry. She was bundled in a loose-fitting maroon University of Duluth hooded jacket and short maroon skirt over black leggings. She was young, probably no older than 19 or 20. Her most distinguishing feature however, was the strange star-shaped red skin discoloration over her right eye. After going to baggage claim and loading their bags into the SUV, Sean helped the ladies into the car, and they departed for the Headquarters.

Mindweaver looked out the window as thy drove past Fort Snelling, and on towards Downtown Minneapolis. She shifted in her seat, and then looked over towards the man driving. “While we are certainly happy to come down and help you guys out while you are short-handed, Caribou was a little perplexed as to why you specifically asked for the two of us.” She asked, looking over toward Starfield, who nodded her agreement.

Brogue smiled, and replied. “Beyond having two such lovely lasses along with us? Ay, there is another reason, we asked for ye, and ye’ll meet her when we get to the HQ.”

Brogue kept driving, oblivious to the odd glance shared between the telepath and the mage.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 13

—————

April 22nd
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

LeAnna was sitting in a chair by the young girl, showing her how to use the hairbrush that she was holding. After observing, the girl took the brush and experimented with it, giving herself an awful case of floofy hair. Laughing, she took the brush from the girl and helped her get it straightened out.

Brogue walked in with the two newest Overseers following quick behind. “I’m sure ye two know Gavia, She’s sorta th’ boss here. Don’ worry though, her bark is worse than her bite.”, The two newbies nodded towards her. “And this lassie is part o’ th’ reason we asked for you two specifically.”

Starfield walked over to the elven-looking girl and held out her hand. “Hi, my codename is Starfield, though you can call me Charity.”, she pleasantly exclaimed. The girl shrunk back from her, nervously looking at the extended hand.

Gavia spoke up, “I’m sorry we haven’t had any time to brief you, but we thought you two should be appraised of the situation. We rescued this girl from captivity, she was being held by a man who was using her for prostitution. As far as we know, she doesn’t have a name…” Gavia turned visibly pale and smacked her forehead. “I’m sorry… we never asked you. Do you have a name?”, She asked.

The girl tilted her head in thought. “The master and the other men that mated with me would call me ’Slut’, or “whore’, or ‘bitch’… are those my names?”, she asked. Everyone in the room frowned. Mindweaver furrowed her brow in concentration, and the girl’s eyes opened wide open in shock. She looked over at the telepath, and tilted her head again.

“As far as I can tell, she doesn’t have a name. It appears as though she was found in a state of tabula rasa, and stitched a consciousness together on her own from those she came in contact with. She has a low-level telepathic ability, but it appears to be based on skin contact, from what I can ascertain.” She looked over at the puzzled girl. “I’m sorry if I’m talking about things you don’t understand, I just find you fascinating.” Mindweaver finished speaking, and smiled at the girl. The girl smiled back, though still slightly confused.

Brogue looked at the young lass. “Hm, with no name of your own how about… Essylt? In the language of my ancestors, it means ‘exceptionally beautiful’…”, He suggested.

The girl smiled. “I am Essylt!”, she squealed with glee. With that settled, She happily bounced up and down in the bed, looking paradoxically like a 5 year old in the body of an extremely attractive young woman.

—————

A short time later
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Leaving Essylt to her own devises, the others left the room and walked to the command center. After finishing the formalities of adding the new members to the official team registry, the quartet got down to work.

Starfield looked around at the others gathered. “Okay, I see why you wanted Mindweaver here, but I’m a little confused as to my purpose.”, She muttered before looking downward.

Gavia spoke up, “When we rescued the g… Essylt, she kind of panicked and cast a really powerful wind spell, reflexively. A wind strong enough to pin an exemplar 6 with level 4 PK superman abilities in place.” She looked over at Brogue, who was blushing in embarrassment. “She’s a potentially high-level mage, and since she’s clearly not ready for Whateley, we need someone who can help with teaching her control. Additionally, I did my homework, and anyone that Circe has glowing recommendations about is certainly someone worth having around.” Starfield stammered, she hadn’t known that Circe, of all people, was giving glowing reports about her.


Brogue took his turn in updating the newest members of the team. “Additionally, there is a further complication. Mindweaver might have picked up on it, I’m sure.” He looked over at the telepath, who simply nodded. Continuing, he explained. “She’s about 3-4 weeks pregnant. We’ve talked t’ Carson on this, but frankly Whateley isn’t prepared to deal with a pregnant student at this time. What with ragers, and violent students on the campus… even if she were mentally capable of attending, there would be problems. Furthermore, Carson is worried. She has other sidhe on campus, one of whom is a VERY powerful mage, and has connections t’ The Five Fold Court. Now, Carson doesn’t think that that student would hurt Essylt, far from it. But bringing such a naive girl into th’ sphere o’ influence o’ such a person certainly wouldn’t be good for her.”

The meeting concluded, and the two young women went off to get settled in.

Starfield knocked on Mindweaver’s door.

“Come in, Charity. The door is unlocked.”, the older of the two said.

Starfield walked in and sat down on the bed, uneasily. “Cassie, I’m not sure about all this. This is a lot to take in.”

Mindweaver nodded, “You wanted to step up to the big leagues. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it in Duluth, and Caribou took such good care of everyone on the team… But here we can make a difference, a big difference. Plus tomorrow you know what we have to do?”

Charity smiled and nodded. On the way, they had passed the Mall of America. Being that close to the largest shopping mall in the United States only meant one thing… “Shopping trip!”, she squealed.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 14

—————

April 22nd
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota


LeAnna sat in the common room, watching the news. Nothing was really going on, and that suited her just fine. She watched as Essylt wandered in, having appropriated several issues of Ranger Rick and Highlights magazines from reception. It would have been amusing to see, if not for the fact that the individual doing it looked to be a very mature looking teenager, and not the 5 year old they were acting like.

Smiling at the new arrival, LeAnna motioned for her to come over and sit with her. Essylt wandered over, and sat down beside her. LeAnna turned the TV over to Sesame Street. The redhead watched engrossed. It was so strange to LeAnna, this girl was taller than she was, and her physique rivaled the one LeAnna had back before her manifestation. Essylt snuggled up against her happily. LeAnna smiled happily and gently petted the girl’s head. Due to problems that had been caused by her spirit, LeAnna could not have children, but perhaps this young girl was there to make up for that.

After the program ended, Leanna looked at the young woman sho leaned comfortably against her. “Essy, do you want to talk?”, the older woman asked.

Essylt looked at her. “Can we?”, the young lady asked.

With a smile, LeAnna nodded and agreed. “I would like to talk to you. You know you are safe here, and you don’t have to worry anymore. There are things that we need to talk about, that are very important. You do know that the man who found you was a very BAD man. The things he did to you were things that he should not have done. The things the other men did were not right either.”

Essylt frowned. “I liked most of it, it felt nice. I wanted to feel it a lot. It tingled in a good way. Except when mas… the bad man got angry and scary. Am I bad, because I liked it?”, Essylt asked, afraid that LeAnna would be mad at her. She liked the older woman, she was afraid that she would not like her anymore.

“No, you are not bad. What you did is something that is normal. What was bad was that they didn’t give you a choice. Sex is something that you share with someone by your own choice. It is something that both people involved in have to agree to. If someone else makes you, even if it feels good, it’s wrong for them to do it.”, LeAnna hugged the girl. More and more she was beginning to think of this girl like a daughter.

“That brings up another problem.”, Leanna said.

Essylt put her hand on her stomach and whimpered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”, she cried.

LeAnna hugged the girl and stated, ”You are not in trouble, but we need to talk about your baby. We all adore you, and we will be here through this all for you. We are just worried for you because this will be hard on you. The baby will get bigger as it grows in you. You will get sick, your stomach won’t feel good, and there will be times when you can’t keep your food down. You will gain weight, there will be times when you feel like it is too hard to get out of bed. And having the baby won’t be easy either.”

She could see that Essylt was getting a little scared. Looking over to the TV, she had an idea. Picking up the small keyboard for the gadgeteer-made television, she punched in a search. Holding the larger girl tightly, they sat in silence and watched a documentary on conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. LeAnna held her hand the entire time. She could feel Essylt’s emotions as the girl unconsciously shared them through her telepathic abilities. Worry and concern and at times fear, but when LeAnna squeezed her hand gently, love and acceptance and peace replaced those fears.


—————


A short time later
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Essylt had left the lounge, taking the magazines she had brought with her. LeAnna sat and pondered for a while, after all the problems and losses and tragedies that had befallen the team, maybe this young girl would be what they needed. Her very presence had required the addition of the two newest members, and an idea was forming in her mind, one that might at least partially bring back another that had left.

Getting up and walking to her room, LeAnna walked in and closed the door. Sighing, she hesitated before picking up the phone and dialing. Uncertain, she spoke. “Renata?, it’s LeAnna… I might have a job for you, and this one doesn’t require suiting up…”

little something to tide you over while I struggle to write.

Gavia, at Lake Calhoun on a Summer day..

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 15

—————

April 22nd
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Sean Murphy walked into the reception area, he had been to visit his mother. She was not taking the disappearance of her Father all that well. He had, of course, seen the old man as he had left the crime scene. That Old Man O’Sullivan had left control of the mob to Sean’s uncle Rory was no shock. He knew the old man was attempting to save face, after the debacle with Essylt and Rossi.

What Sean hadn’t expected was seeing the lass at the security checkpoint having trouble. He looked over to the guard, a new hire named Chetworth. “Is there a problem, boyo?”, he inquired.

Chetworth, a slender, brown haired young man of perhaps 24 looked up at him. “Yes sir. This woman seems to think that this ID card is legitimate. It’s obviously a fake.”

Nodding, he looked at the woman, an attractive lassie with freckles and big ice blue eyes that complimented her strawberry blonde hair. He smiled to the woman, who smiled back. He addressed her with a look of bemusement, “So lass, ye think this card can get ye into th’ headquarters of th’ Twin Cities Overseers?”

Chetworth was grinning like the cat that ate the canary. Someone was going to get chewed out by Brogue, and he got to see it in person.

“So Miss, um… Hughes, is it? There’s only one thing I can say after seeing this card, and that is… go right on in.” Brogue smirked, and saw Miss Hughes do likewise.

Chetworth was absolutely dumbfounded. “But sir,” he squeaked. “ That woman was using a fake ID to get in.”

Brogue looked the younger man up and down. “Expired, perhaps, but hardly fake. I suggest ye get someone to take yer place at this desk, while ye go to records and review the past members list. Ye just tried to refuse entry to Lake, a former member in good standing, and a close personal friend o’ mine.”, He exclaimed, looking at the guard with a stern face.

Chetworth lowered his head and slunk off, another security officer slid into place at the desk.

Brogue made his way up to the rec room, where he found Lake already telling the story to a laughing Gavia. LeAnna looked over at him, and invited him to sit. “So,” she said, looking at Lake, “I bet you are wondering why I asked you in. Let me reassure you, I’m not asking you to get back in the field. I have an offer of a safe job here, one that you will probably like.”, Gavia said in a pleasant relaxing tone.

As circumstance would have it, Essylt walked into the room with a stuffed gopher plushie, and a doughnut hanging out of her mouth. Sensing all the eyes on her, Essylt looked up, and with a full mouth mumbled, the doughnut falling on the floor. “What?”

Brogue got up and took the girl by the hand, and led her out. “Come, Lass. Let’s let the grown ups talk about all th’ serious boring stuff, shall we?”

Essylt giggled and followed along obediently.

“Renata, this is Essylt. She’s the reason I called you here.”, said Gavia. The Leader of the Overseers then explained about Rossi, and the circumstances leading up to his death, and the rescue of the young sidhe girl.

Renata Hughes took in the information and nodded. “So, essentially you want me to work with your new recruits to help this girl… what? Become the next team member? After Tamarak, I would think that you all would realize how dangerous this line of work is. This is no place for a child.” Renata fumed, this did not seem like a good idea. far from it, in fact.

Before her friend could get up and leave, Gavia gently grabbed her arm and indicated for her to wait.

I don’t want her to join the team,” She explained.”, I was hoping you could teach her. With Mindweaver helping to strengthen her consciousness, and Starfield training her in her magic, at least she could have options. Right now we have a girl with the physique of a very attractive teenager, but the mind of a small child. Throw in the strong fae glamour that you no doubt noticed, and what seems to be very high magical potential… How can we sit by? I don’t want her on the team, at least not as is, and at least not for several years. What I want is someone that is capable of going to Whateley and learning how to make a future for herself, no matter what course that is.”


Renata nodded and replied. “Of course, you’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve had no other offers this late in the school year. I think this is a good idea. I’ll take the job… on one condition. I don’t have to wear that skin-tight monstrosity any more.”

LeAnna fake pouted and responded. “Aww, but you were so hot in that bodysuit. If you weren’t so annoyingly straight, I would have made a run at you. You certainly filled it out right. Oh well, my loss is Bill’s gain.” Both women laughed and talked about how things had been and what each had been up to since they last saw each other.

—————

Meanwhile
Elsewhere in the Overseer’s HQ


Sean and Essylt walked into the private lunchroom, The girl sat down and played with her plushie. The tall man fixed her a salad and brought it over to her. He began to turn away, when he felt the girl suddenly pressed against him. She was purring in a sensual manner, probably unaware she was doing it. She ran her hand across his chest and pressed tighter, allowing him to feel her breasts against him. Unprepared for this assault, Sean barely pulled away in time to avoid the kiss.
“Lassie, what in the name of all that’s holy are ye doin’?” he asked, stunned.

Essylt frowned at being spurned, her big sad grey eyes welling up with tears. “I’m sorry. I thought you liked me. You all have been so nice to me. I wanted to thank you.” She cried and walked dejectedly over to the table, head down.

“Ach Lassie, we all love you. but na’ in tha’ way. Sex is something that a couple share because they love each other, yes. But not like how we love ye. To us ye are like family. There are rules for sex, rules you will understand when ye get older. First of all is that both people must love each other in a special way. Sex should be between people that understand those special rules. It is wrong f’r me to do that with ye lass because ye are too young, for one thing. There are laws against that. F’r another, romantic love is different from family love. It’s f’r ye when you find someone ye can build a family with, and love in a romantic way. It’s nae for old farts like me, ones that think of ye like a daughter.”, Sean explained and hugged the girl.

She seemed to understand, but he had best tell LeAnna about this, and maybe Renata. Yes, Renata was the perfect one to help the girl with this.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 16

—————

April 29th
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Renata knocked on the door for the second time. There was no answer, which was unusual. It had been a week since she had started teaching Essylt, and the girl was normally eager to start her lessons. Cautiously, She opened the door and entered. She looked around and noticed the bathroom door open. The girl was laying against the wall next to the toilet, her robe and pajamas looked disheveled. She felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. Giving her a gentle hug, she helped her up and guided her to the bed. Essylt let out a soft whimper, and then laid down.

“I’ll be back in a little bit for our lesson, okay?”, Renata stated softly. Essylt nodded, then felt that was a bad idea, as she bolted back into the bathroom.


Entering the command center, she noticed that Mindweaver was sitting at the table, looking through a psychology book.

“Whatcha reading?”, Renata asked.

Cassandra Duncan, a.k.a. Mindweaver, looked up at her. “Looking through my psych textbooks, I want to make sure that my sessions are going well. The problem with this is that it’s pretty much unexplored territory.”

Renata looked at her quizzically.

Cassie continued to explain, the confusion evident. “Think of Essylt’s consciousness, her entirety of being, her ‘soul’ if you will, as one of those giant 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles. Renata nodded, and Cassie continued, “the thing with her is that the entirety of her puzzle is blank white. Furthermore, there is no picture on the box to look at, and she is being handed the pieces randomly. How do we we best assemble the puzzle?”

Rennie nodded. “That’s quite a complex matter, I didn’t think of it that way.”

Cassie smiled and looked up from the book. ”So, how is our little wonder-child this morning?”, she asked.

Renata frowned. “Puking her guts out, the poor dear.”

“I have an idea, if you think she’s up to it.”, Cassie said. “Do you think a trip to get her out of the HQ and into public would be a good idea?”

Renata thought about it, and nodded. “Even in the past week that we’ve both been working with her, I have seen amazing growth. A reward is certainly in order. Plus she will start to get a little big for the few outfits she has right now. And we can always drag Brogue along to play Pack-mule.” She snickered and got up to go see how poor Essylt was feeling.


—————

An hour later
Southdale Mall,
Edina, Minnesota

Essylt bounced around happily, taking in the sights as she looked around. there were people everywhere. So many stores and so much to do. Mindweaver… oops, She was supposed to call her Cassie when not in uniform… was teaching her about money and how to buy things. As a treat, Miss Rennie had given her a 5 dollar bill, and told her that she could go over to the ice cream stand and get anything that she could afford. Having decided on a triple scoop ice cream cone of chocolate, maple nut, and cherry, she walked over. Essylt did the math as she was shown. The ice cream would cost $3.85, that meant she would get back $1.15. She smiled and happily took the change and the ice cream, and walked back to the others, who were a little ways away.

Everyone congratulated her on doing well, and she sat blissfully licking the ice cream. She didn’t know it, however that in her happiness, she was pushing her glamour out, stronger than usual. Her guardians were unaffected, but several nearby boys looked around, noticing her.

Sean Murphy watched warily as the group of three boys walked over. The first one, a tall Hispanic youth, stepped up to Essylt.

“Yo baby, I saw you from over there, and thought what’s such a fine thing as you doing hanging with these old people?”

Essylt looked at the boy and innocently said, “They are my guardians. They keep me safe.”

The boy, undeterred, took the ravishing creature by the arm and tried to leave.

Essylt squealed, “Let me go!”


Sean stood up. “Ye heard the lassie, let her go.”, he rumbled.

The youth was not to be refused. “Hey, old man, shouldn't you be off fixing the warp drive or something?”

Sean cracked his knuckles and stood up. “Ach, youth these days. Not knowing th’ difference between a Scotsman and an Irishman. That I can forgive, but manhandling a wee lass, especially when she tells ye that she’s not interested. That’s something else.”, He said with a deep timbre to his voice.

Looking up at the massive man-mountain before him, the boy and his friends reconsidered things, and went off to find girls that were less hassle to pick up.

Essylt, frightened, buried her face in Sean’s chest and whimpered. For his part, he petted her head gently and reassured her.

The traumatic incident behind her, she cheered up and happily continued her shopping.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 17

—————

May 1st
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Essylt was having another bad morning. She staggered out of her room, looking quite green. The oversized tee she had on that proclaimed ‘baby on board’ in large letters fit more like a loose dress than a shirt. She walked over to the circular table, sat down and put her head on it. Connie and Charity looked at each other and gave a little chuckle between them, then rubbed the poor girl's back. The young girl moaned, and sat there.

LeAnna walked into the room with a tall, well dressed woman. The bright beige contrasting with her dark cocoa complexion. She sat opposite Essylt at the circular table, with LeAnna at her right side.

Leanna looked at everyone seated at the table. “For those of you who are new here,” she stated, “This is our chief legal counsel, Judith Carlson.”

She nodded toward the woman, and made introductions. Judith, looked at everyone there, her eyes settling on Essylt, who was looking around uneasily.

“Now as you know, temporary emergency custody was granted to Brogue and I, pending the location of any biological family.” Leanna said in a mellow tone, “However, no indication of any known family has been discovered, and after consulting with Elizabeth Carson, the possibility of Essylt having undergone a dramatic genetic change has been raised.” The court finds that we may never locate any next of kin, and has issued an order that Essylt be turned over to the MCO and Children’s Protective Services.”

Essylt began to visibly shake and her eyes grew wide and teary. Both Mindweaver and Starfield moved their chairs closer to her and each woman put an arm around her.

Judith looked up from the touching scene, and adjusted the glasses that perched at the end of her slightly upturned nose before she spoke. “I have filed an injunction, preventing the transfer of custody. Furthermore, I have filed LeAnna’s official petition for adoption.”

Essylt looked up in surprise and delight, getting up and gently slipping from the comforting embrace given by the women at her side. She squealed and hurried over to LeAnna, and threw herself into a bearhug, wrapping her arms tightly around the smaller woman. “So, you are going to be my mom?” she hesitantly asked.

LeAnna smiled and said. “With any luck, yes. But don’t get too excited. This is far from a sure thing. There will be hearings, the judge will hear the evidence, and make a decision based on all the facts. But they will also listen to you, and to me. and ask our opinions. So be sure if this is what you want”, she cautioned.

“Oh it is, it surely is!”, squealed the young Sidhe. Her joyful exuberance was cutshort, however, as she turned green, cupped her hand over her mouth, and ran from the room.

—————


May 3rd
Como Park
St. Pail, Minnesota.

The redhaired fae girl sat beneath a tree, reading slowly through the book she held. She was overjoyed. In so brief a time, she had been freed from the bad man, She and her baby would be safe. Momma LeAnna would make sure of that! Her training with Connie was going well, the training was helping her get stronger. She felt more complete, not fully there yet, but her mind was stronger. Her attention didn’t drift as much, she could think about difficult things like money and time and stuff that had given her trouble before. She felt more mature. Miss Renata had been helping her understand school stuff, and why it was important. Essylt liked learning about history and civilization, and why things worked, and why they were important.

She put the dog-eared copy of The Hobbit down and watched her ‘family’. Sean, whom she loved like a father, was playing frisbee with Charity. A little ways away, Connie and Renata were trying to light the grill. Renata’s fiancee, Bill, was playing with his dog. Essylt had squealed with delight at being introduced to Roger, the little corgi. When the puppy came over and licked her face, she laughed long and hard. She really hoped that the Judge was a nice person that let her stay. Momma LAnna came over and handed her a wide-brimmed hat.

“I don’t know if it’s the same for sidhe, but for fair-skinned humans, you need to cover up to avoid getting sunburn.”, she explained.

“Yes Mom.”, Essylt said in a cheery voice. Those words hit LeAnna right in the heart. She began to tear up and turning to the girl, she embraced her carefully yet firmly. With perfect timing, Roger waddled over to them both and started licking their faces, making both women giggle and laugh like crazy.

Sean took over the cooking once the grill was lit, and soon steaks and sausages were cooking, along with LeAnna’s walleye, a bunch of squash and mixed vegetables for Essylt, and plenty of corn for all. After everyone stuffed their faces, Bill handed Roger’s leash to Essylt, and let her take him for a walk. Charity came along and they talked about magic. Essylt had been learning minor spells and how to draw essence from the mage, and was showing a knack for it. She didn’t know it, but Charity thought that the girl might be a stronger mage than she was, or at least had that potential. That worried her a little, because of how the girl had been found. If she hadn’t been rescued, and her powers had been discovered, she could have been twisted into a powerful villain. This team was what the girl needed, and she hoped that the courts could see that.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 18
—————

May 5th
Hennepin County Government Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota


“All rise, court is now in session.” The Bailiff stated, “The Honorable Thomas Garvey presiding.”

The Judge, a tall man with blonde and grey hair, sat down on the bench. Looking at the assembly, he motioned to the attorneys.

“Miles Darver, representing the people, your honor.”, stated the lead attorney. He was a tall man, slim and somewhat gangly looking.

“Your Honor, Judith Carlson representing the Twin Cities Overwatch.” Judith brushed the front of her suit, straightening it.

The judge looked at them. “Mr. Darver, I have read your petition for the minor Jane Doe in question to be turned over to Child Services. Likewise, Miss Carlson, I have read your request for a dismissal of the people’s request, and the filing of a request for adoption of the minor in question. Before we get too far into things, I will hear both sides and make my ruling based on the best interest of the minor. I also note the presence of the MCO at these proceedings, however due to the potentially sensitive nature of the information, I have to bar you from the court.”

With this, a man stepped from the gallery. “Your Honor, My name is Davis Henderson, attorney for the MCO. Anticipating such an order, I have a signed notice from the State Supreme Court barring any exclusionary actions.

The smarmy-looking man stepped forward and handed the document to the Bailiff, who then handed it over to the judge.

The judge looked over the document, and then looked to the attorneys. “It seems I have no choice but to allow the MCO to witness the events here, but I will say this. If any details revealed in this hearing are found to be leaked to … improper parties, I will make sure that you regret ever stepping into my court. That being said, I am going to formally declare a gag order on all discussions with outside parties.”

The attorneys agreed and sat down.

Looking at Mr. Darver, the Judge spoke. “Mr. Darver, you may make your opening statements.”

“Thank you, your Honor. We are here today to discuss the well-being of the minor officially known as Jane Doe. The people feel it is in the child’s best interest that she be removed from her current situation. It has come to our attention that the child in question is a mutant, and we feel that her being housed by a hero team raises serious concerns for the child’s safety and well-being.” Darver finished his statement and walked over to his seat.

Judge Garvey looked over to Judith Carlson, who was consulting with a short woman that sat beside her. “Miss Carlson, anything to add, before we get started?”

Judith turned and looked at the judge. “Yes, Your Honor,” She said as she got up and stood before the judge. “We are seeking continued guardianship because we feel that it is in the best interest of the girl in question. There are special circumstances that we feel make it imperative that the girl in question remain with her current guardians.”

“Very well,” The Judge said. “Mr. Darver, you may call your first witness.”

Darver stood up. “ Your honor, the people call Dr. Lesley Bowden.”

The Bailiff held up a bible and swore in the older woman. she was perhaps in her late 50’s, and a little overweight. She looked out of place in the courtroom, and more like she should be in a kitchen baking pies.

Darver approached the witness box. “Please state your name and profession.”, He said with a pleasant smile.

“Doctor Lesley Bowden, chief of pediatric psychiatry at Hennepin County Medical Center.”, she said, leaning over to the microphone.

“Doctor, on May 4th, you had the opportunity to examine the Jane Doe in question?”

“I did.”, She responded.

“And what did you make of her psychological condition?”

“From my examination, I determined that the girl Is bright, outgoing, and eager to please. However I was disturbed by several factors. She is delayed in both emotional and educational development. From all indication, she has the emotional faculties of a girl of perhaps 8 years old. Furthermore, her cognitive skills are quite advanced, and yet she is showing signs of being behind her apparent age by at least a couple years.”, The doctor stated, and looked at the little redhead seated in the back row.

“Thank you Doctor, no more questions.”, Darver said.

Judith Carlson stood up and approached the bench. “Doctor I assume that prior to your examination, you read the reports from the BCA and the Overseers?”

“I did.”, She said.

“Then I assume you are aware that the girl had been held captive and forced into being a sex-slave for several weeks prior to her rescue? And that after her rescue, she had been withdrawn from her surroundings? Would you say that given the nature of her captivity and her emotional state, that there has been improvement in the time since?”, Judith inquired.

“There seems to be improvement over the preliminary assessment performed immediately after the rescue, yes.”, stated the doctor.

“So, given that she was held prisoner and assaulted repeatedly, her current emotional state is unusual?”

“I would say that she is coping remarkably well.”, the Doctor replied.

“Thank you, no more questions.”, Judith stated.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 19
—————

May 5th
Hennepin County Government Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mindweaver took her place next to the judge, having been sworn in.

Miles Darver, attorney for the state approached and began his questioning. “For the record, please state your name?”

“I go by the codename Mindweaver.”, the masked woman replied.

“I mean please state your full name.”, the attorney clarified. The tall man looked at the woman sitting in the witness box.

“Objection!”, came the cry from behind. Judith Carlson, attorney for the Twin Cities Overwatch had leapt from her chair, and her knuckles were resting on the table in front of her. “I don’t know what my colleague is trying to determine, but in Ms. Might v. Wyoming, the Supreme Court upheld that an individual may not be compelled by a court of law to reveal their secret identity.”

The Judge looked at Darver. “Quite right. I don’t know what you intended with that question.” She looked over at Henderson, who was sitting in the gallery. He had a neutral expression on his face. “Objection sustained.”

Darver shook off the objection and continued. “Miss.. um, Mindweaver. Please state your interest in this case.”

Mindweaver, for her part nodded and adjusted the microphone. “I was recruited by the Twin Cities Overwatch for my telepathic skills. After they found Es… um Jane Doe, they found her to be largely a blank slate. It was hoped that with telepathic tutoring and the assistance of conventional teaching methods that she could be rehabilitated and eased into society.”

Darver’s eyebrow arched. “I see, so in effect, you were to shape this girl into someone subservient and draft them into the hero business?”

The hero looked at him from the bench. “That’s not what I said.” Cassie looked over toward the rest of the team, She could see on Gavia’s face that she too thought the attorney was up to something.

She continued, “As I was trying to say, with an individual that is for the most part a blank state, it is almost impossible to reconstruct their consciousness whole. There have been reports of individuals that have met up with certain arcane powers having their minds completely erased. In those cases they had to be retrained from a mental state comparable to a newborn. The girl was not at that point, but from all indications she initially had used her own telepathic abilities to instinctively build herself a consciousness.”

“So, in addition to being mentally unstable, this girl has potentially dangerous powers?”, Darver stated.

“Powers don’t make one dangerous, how you use them is what determines the danger.” Mindweaver countered, “Without the mental warding and psychic intrusion prevention in this room, someone with powers weaker than my own could easily force the decision in this case to their favor. It’s one’s personal ethics that determines what they will do with their powers.”

Darver turned and put his finger inches from the hero’s nose. “Exactly, and you are expecting us to trust other mutants, mutants who routinely pose danger to civilians and bystanders, to decide how to raise this girl?”

Mindweaver was about to speak, when Darver cut her off. “No further questions, your honor.”


Judith Carlson stood up, straightened her skirt, and approached the witness stand.

“Miss Mindweaver, Why did you get into the hero business?”, she asked.

Darver stood up and shouted ” Objection! ... Relevance?”

Judith countered. “Your honor, my colleague opened the door when he asked about motive and motivation.”

Judge Garvey nodded. “Agreed, overruled.”

Mindweaver looked towards her. “When I was a little girl, my father was a barge operator on the Great Lakes. One autumn, his ship was caught in a bad storm on Lake Superior, and nearly sank. If it hadn’t been for the actions of The Coast Guard and a group of heroes, all hands aboard would have been lost. When I discovered I had powers, I decided I wished to use them for good, to help people.”

Henderson shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Darver was a fool, he was leading the child right into their hands. The MCO and Humanity First had clearly not gotten their money’s worth out of the backdoor bribes and blackmail. He looked up as that hot-looking attorney continued.

“Miss Mindweaver, since you began working with the girl, what sort of results have you seen?”

“Since we began her telepathic therapy, the girl has shown amazing growth. She was virtually mute before, but now she’s an energetic, happy girl. She is very inquisitive, loves to read and learn about the world. In my opinion she’s a well adjusted little girl, all things considered.”

Cassandra was about to continue speaking, when there was a loud commotion from out in the hall. Seconds later, the courtroom doors blew off their hinges as there was a powerful explosion. A squad of men in black armor and masks, with weapons drawn entered and began peppering the room with blaster fire and a rain of machine gun bullets.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 20
—————

May 5th
Hennepin County Government Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Walter Higgins had spent 40 years on the job with the Hennepin County Sherif Department. He had taken this job to bide his time until retirement. Nothing ever happened to bailiffs. In 6 months he would file his papers and take Edith on that cruise he had promised her for the last 40 years. Tragically, that would not come to pass. He saw the armored men burst into the room, and jumped in front of the judge. Mercifully, he never saw the bullet, as he turned his head to check on the judge. That was the moment it hit squarely in the temple, and exploded out the other side.

Chaos broke out in the courtroom. Machine gun fire mowed its way through the gathered attendees. Bullets bounced off Brogue as he charged forward. Using a well-practiced technique, Gavia ran up from behind, running up his back, and somersaulted into the middle of the enemies, she started taking them down from up close with a volley of punches and feints and kicks. Surrounded by about 12 men, she got down low, making herself a difficult target. She spun into the first man, placing a kick to the side of his knee. several sweeps and low kicks and punches later, the dozen men were down, holding broken knees, shins, and ankles.

Starfield had not been idle. She had cast a barrier, protecting as many people as she could. Now she was busy casting healing spells on those who had been hit in the opening barrage. The bailiff was beyond her help, but there were others she could save. Kneeling over Judith Carlson, she poured magic into the bleeding hole in the attorney’s shoulder. Mindweaver helped her on triage, assisting in numbing the pain centers of the wounded, using makeshift tourniquets, and basic first aid.

Peering out from her hiding spot, nobody noticed as Renata Hughes' eyes flashed brilliant blue. With a sudden bang, the sprinkler system burst. Torrents of water burst forth, aiming at the attackers like riot hoses. The force of the water knocking attackers out of the room, and out into the hall. At the same time she wrapped her arms around a struggling girl and restrained the little redheaded elf.

“Let me go!”, protested Essylt. “I have to help! This is my fault! They wouldn’t be here if not for me!”

Renata held tightly and tried to soothe the girl. “Calm down little one, they know what hey are doing. In the meantime, you have something more precious to protect, don’t you?” Saying that, Renata quickly patted the girl’s stomach for emphasis.

Judge Garver witnessed the conversation between the two. The girl was willing to risk herself and the unborn child she carried in order to fight. Maybe being with the heroes wasn’t a bad thing. She was selfless and caring, after all.

Brogue bulled his way through the attackers, reaching the exterior of the courtroom, they were 8 stories up, and he sent several of the attackers for a little trip to the floor of the atrium below. Assessing the situation, he noticed the dropship parked on the roof, and the hole blasted in the side of the building. Below, in the atrium, he could see members of the County Sheriff office and the Minneapolis Police barricading the entries, as power armor was being brought to bare on their fortified position.

“Gav, th’ police are drawing heavy fire below. we need t’ get down there and fortify their positions!”, He barked out over his com unit. Carrying several more of the attackers with him, he leapt off the walkway and landed below. Upon wading into the firefight, Brogue spotted a heavy armor battle suit bulling its way through the blockade at the north Information kiosk. He charged it, taking several high-energy blasts off his PK field.

“Brogue, Kirby Puckett, I repeat Kirby Puckett!”, Gavia yelled over the com, giving the code for the maneuver she was about to pull off. Leaping from the 8th story walkway, She curled into a ball.

Brogue acknowledged the call-sign, and caught the 98 pound woman, then in one quick motion, he flung her forward, into the assault troops surrounding the heavy armor. Gavia began taking out the armed men with her acrobatic style of fighting, leaping and dodging swings, and inflicting as much damage as quickly as possible. She had to thank that little bastard Ito back at Whateley. He was a pain in the ass, but the style he helped her develop certainly took full advantage her size, quickness, and agility.

Up in the courtroom, Mindweaver turned her head to see Darver crawling towards the fallen bailiff’s weapon. She saw him pick it up and turn it towards Essylt. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this… it was just supposed to be a simple snatch and grab.”

Henderson peered up from his hiding place. “Shut up!”, he demanded.

“You shut up!” screamed Darver, “The heroes were supposed to be no problem. You would get the girl, and I’d get enough to retire to some island filled with naked women!”

Henderson couldn’t believe it. The panicky idiot just revealed his duplicity in front of the judge, the court reporter, the court clerk, AND the heroes that were still in the room. He turned to flee, but suddenly found his legs wouldn’t work. That damned telepath! She was doing it. He turned unwillingly, looking at her glowing eyes, and then everything went black.

Darver turned back towards the girl, malice in his eyes, when suddenly the water from the broken sprinklers started to freeze. He was getting cold, and he noticed the elf girl's eyes were fixed on him. He shivered, his suit was drenched and icing over. His hands trembled, and he dropped the gun before passing out from rapid hypothermia.

Things were going well down in the atrium, as well. Brogue had managed to damage the power armor’s gyroscopic stabilizer. In a different situation, one could suppose it would be humorous to see a gigantic mecha armor flailing around like a turtle on its back, but now was not that time. Gavia and the combined remaining law enforcement personnel had managed to subdue the shock troops, and more officers were streaming in from Minneapolis City Hall, across the street. The situation was under control but nobody felt like they could breathe a sigh of relief just yet.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 21
—————

May 5th
The Baker Household
Hastings, Minnesota


“This is Trish Van Pilsum, reporting live from outside the Hennepin County Government Center, where just a few hours ago the drop ship seen behind me landed on the roof. According to eyewitnesses, soldiers and at least one heavy combat mechanical armor unloaded and smashed through the side of the building. Reports place Twin Cities Overseers members Brogue and Gavia as having been on scene, and assisting the police and sheriff on site. Government officials are not commenting on the reason for this attack, or the people responsible at this time. KMSP has attempted to reach the Overseers, but our messages have not been returned at this time.”

Paul Baker turned off the television. He always worried about his daughter, but she was a grown woman. He shook his head, picked up the phone, and left a message on her private number.

“LeAnna, when you get this message, please call your old man, okay?” He hung up and sat back down on the couch and smiled at the good his little girl was doing.

—————

That same day
Hennepin County Government Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Law enforcement had rounded up the surviving attackers. It had been a terrible battle. Inside the courtroom, there had been 5 fatalities, and three more people were in serious condition at Hennepin County Medical Center. Outside, as many as 19 fatalities had been reported, between building staffers, bystanders, and law enforcement officers. Additionally, there were 30 fatalities amongst the attackers. Another 20 had been sent to the secure prison wing of the hospital.

Gavia led the team into the Judge’s chambers. The reason for this meting was clear. There had been duplicity between the MCO and Child Protective Services. She was sure that if she dug deep enough, she would find ties connecting Darver to Humanity First. After they entered, the team found Judy Carlson also in the chambers, her arm in a sling. The Judge looked over to his court reporter and nodded.

“This will be on the record. Judge Thomas Garvey presiding. Assembled are Brogue, Mindweaver, and Starfield representing the Twin Cities Overseers.” With a sly nod, he looked over at Gavia. “Also present are Ms. LeAnna Baker-Smith, petitioner for custody of the minor in question, her attorney, Ms. Judith Carlson, and Ms. Renata Hughes, who has been providing educational assistance to the child in question.”

The judge motioned for everyone to be seated, before continuing. “Due to complicit activities, and questionable motives by Child Services, I have decided to grant the petition of adoption of the child known as Jane Doe to Ms. Baker-Smith. Furthermore, I will be requesting an thorough investigation into the Hennepin County Child Services Department, and the local MCO.” The Judge stood up and walked over to LeAnna and offered his hand. She took it and shook it carefully.

“Thank you, oh thank you!”, LeAnna said in between sniffles and tears. The Judge motioned to her court clerk, who got up, and opened the chamber doors, and ushered in a Bailiff, escorting Essylt.

The Judge smiled and looked a the uncertain teen. “Congratulations, from this day forward, you have a new mom!”

Essylt squealed and ran over to LeAnna, wrapping her in a bear hug. LeAnna, for her part, returned the favor, and kissed her new daughter on the forehead.

The Judge looked at the emotional pair, and softly posed a question. ”What name shall we enter into the records for her?”

LeAnna looked up with tears flowing down her cheeks. “Essylt Aislinn Baker-Smith.”

The Judge nodded as the court reporter entered the name in, Brogue providing help with the spelling.

“It’s a pity we don’t have a birthdate to enter. Every child should have a birthday.”, the judge commented in an off-hand manner.

Essylt scrunched her face, as if struggling to remember something, then said plainly, “March 17th is my birthday.”

Everyone cast puzzled looks at the girl, but the judge simply nodded and said, “Okay, that would mean March 17th, 1993 is the probable date of birth then.”


—————

May 6th
The Baker household
Hastings, Minnesota

Paul Baker got up to answer the knock on his door. He hadn’t been expecting anyone, but Leslie Carlson often dropped by to bring him cookies or a cake, or whatever her mad bouts of baking had produced. He certainly hadn’t expected to see the young woman standing there.

“Hiya, Daddy”, LeAnna said with a smile, before giving him a gentle hug. “I’m here to introduce someone to you. This is your new grand-daughter, Essylt.”

With an unsure look on her face, a young red-haired girl with smokey grey eyes, and curiously pointed ears stepped into the apartment. Her uneasiness was quickly erased as the much older man gave her a hug of pure delight.

Paul ushered them into the apartment, and offered his suddenly larger family some cookies and milk.
LeAnna told him all about her recent cases and her adventures, and about Essylt, and his great-grandbaby to come. Paul had not had such a lovely day in such a long time.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 22
—————

May 8th
Twin Cities Overseer Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Essylt lay sleeping on the couch in the rec room, her hand in a box of pretzels. There was an open copy of Your baby and you spread over her face. On the floor beside her sat a half dozen books, topics ranging from history to mathematics to pregnancy. Every now and again someone would enter the room, her sensitive sidhe hearing alerting her, and causing her to mumble or shift positions slightly. LeAnna Baker-Smith walked in and saw her daughter asleep on the couch and started thinking. Quietly she walked over to the computer over in the corner and started looking up real estate listings.


—————


May 16th
Outside Twin Cities Overseer Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota


LeAnna ushered her daughter into her SUV, and after making sure Essylt had buckled up, she started it up. Essylt was full of questions, but LeAnna only smiled and said “You’ll see when we get there.” They continued to drive for what seemed to Essylt to be a long time, in reality about 35 minutes later they pulled up to a house.

The house was a cheery house, 2 stories, with stonework paths and a nice blue exterior with white trim. Essylt looked at the house in wonder. LeAnna just smiled and handed her a key. “Go on and go in.”, her mother said. Excitedly, Essylt jumped out of the car and ran up to the door. The key fit! She waited for her mom to park, and join her before entering. Once she turned the key and walked in, she was greeted by a hearty shout of “SURPRISE!”

Looking around, She was stunned. Sean and Connie and Charity were there, and Ms. Renata, and her fiancee Bill, and little Roger, the Corgi. Roger ran up to Essylt and licked her face, causing the girl to smile and giggle. There was another man present, one that she didn’t recognize, He sat in a wheelchair talking to Sean, so he had to be a good man.

Everyone came over to Essylt and hugged her in turn.

The stranger wheeled over and introduced himself. “My name is James, I used to work with your Mother and Sean. My codename was Defcon.” He extended a hand to shake, and the girl pondered as she got no reading from him.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was told you are a touch telepath. This arm is cybernetic. I made it after the car accident that took my arm and legs.” Looking down, he continued. “Those are my next project. When I get those done, I might even come out of retirement to help your poor old mom.” Essylt laughed. She liked James, he was funny.

LeAnna took Essylt on a tour, She had her own bedroom and bath, just like at the Headquarters, but this was so much better! There was a fenced in backyard! a big kitchen and dining room, where they could cook and entertain people. LeAnna had a private study, and the last thing that Essylt saw made her cry. There was a room for the baby! it was unpainted and unfurnished, that would wait for them to find the gender out, but it was amazing. The poor girl was a sea of hormones, laughing and crying and hugging her mother. Then another, more urgent need came up, and Essylt ran for the bathroom.

LeAnna shook her head. “Poor, sweet girl.”, She mused.

Once Essylt’s bladder and stomach had stopped fighting, she joined everyone in the sparsely decorated living room. A cake was produced, and everyone started congratulating her and her mother. It was an adoption party!

Sean stepped up and hugged the girl and presented her with a present, it was a large cylindrical tube. Eagerly she opened the tube and pondered at what was inside.

Sean smiled and explained. “Those are twin cudgels and a shillelagh, made from Australian bull-oak, th’ strongest wood in th’ world. They are inlayed with mithril, and the knobs are covered in it. Along with those comes training in how to use them. I’ll show you basic forms now, but th’ more … serious… Bataireacht training with them will have to wait until after the baby is born, of course.” Essylt hugged him and thanked him for the wonderful gift.

Charity and Cassandra were next over to give a present. “This is from us”, they both said, handing over a box. Essylt tore open the paper and opened the package. Inside was a metal collar with green stones around the band and a four leaf clover charm hanging from it.

Charity spoke up. “The collar is mithril, with emerald inlayed. I cast a few spells into it. One to help focus your magic, another to give you minor protection for your iron and synthetic allergies. It won’t nullify them completely, but you should be able to resist the itching and burning a little.” Essylt hugged the two of them in a great big bear hug.

James presented her with a cellphone, specially made with Devisor and Gadgeteer additions. Essylt realized that he was the one that made the amazing televisions and computers back at the HQ, and was stunned at the gift. He took some time to show her the various applications, as well as the panic button feature, and direct access to the HQ database.

With presents handed out, everyone gathered on the back deck for a cook-out. Essylt watched as Roger ran around in the fenced-in yard. She tore into the potato salad and corn on the cob. after several root beer floats, she got kind of tired, and drifted off to sleep. LeAnna bid farewell to her guests as the night wore on towards 10PM. The house had almost no furnishings, but there was a bed in Essylt’s room. Gently lifting her daughter, she carried her up the stairs, and into her room.
She helped the drowsy girl off with her clothes, and into some cotton pajamas. Essylt curled up on the bed and drifted off into content slumber.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 23
—————

May 20th
Twin Cities Overseer Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Essylt looked uncertainly at the card her mother was holding. She reached out and looked at it. Her mother had explained the Mutant Identification Card to her before, and everyone on the team had shown her theirs, but this was different. She had one of her own now, and that meant more independence. She looked at the small plastic card and nervously took it and looked it over.

Mutant Identification Card

Code name: Eire
Ratings: Wiz (Fae Class): 5, Esper: 2 (Contact-Based), Warper: ?
Techniques: Glamour, Others Classified
Weak vs: Classified
Backup/Team Affiliation: Twin Cities Overseers

LeAnna looked to her daughter. “Essy, please remember that you have to take your card with you whenever you go out. If you don’t, the MCO can detain you, and we don’t want that. You and I have had the talk about your powers before, but remember. Not everyone has powers, so those that don't often are scared of us. It is human nature to be afraid of those things we don’t understand. Try not to use your powers unless you have to. We trust you, but as a wise man once said, ‘With great power must come great responsibility’, so try to avoid situations where you might have to use them, or to fight, ok?”

—————

Later that day
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

“Make sure you take your phone with you, okay?”, LeAnna stated nervously. This was a big step for Essylt, she was being allowed out on her own for the first time. While Defcon had installed a tracking program in the phone, She had to give her new daughter some independence sometime. She watched nervously as Essy picked up her purse and walked out the door.


—————

A short time later
Eden Prairie Center Shopping Mall
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt walked around wide-eyed, looking around the mall. She stopped to browse at the bookstore, picking up a couple of books about pregnancy, some fantasy series with elves on the cover that looked interesting, and a couple fashion magazines. She went out to the food court, picked up a salad and a Dr. Pepper and did some people-watching. She became aware that she was being watched. Looking over, she saw a girl, about 6 or so, looking over at her with big eyes and a huge smile. Essylt smiled back and gave a friendly wave.

“Mommy, look! an elf princess!”, the little girl excitedly squealed. The girl’s mother looked over and saw the teen girl with the pointed ears and strange grey eyes.

She looked harmless enough, with the black yoga pants, the over-sized green hoodie and the grey teeshirt. She was scared, but she took her daughter by the hand and cautiously led her over.

“Um, excuse me? My daughter saw you and was curious about you. Are you a mutant?”, she nervously asked.

Essylt bit her lip nervously, but there seemed to be no hostility on the mother’s face. She relaxed and replied. “Yes, I’m a mutant. I’m what’s called a sidhe. There are legends about there being an entire race of my kind a long time ago, but they all died out in a great war against a great evil. Not there are only a few of us. I wasn’t there, of course, I’m only 14.”

The mother looked at the older girl uncertainly, but the little girl was excited. “Your shirt says ‘baby momma’ on it. You have a baby?”, she asked. “Where is it?”

Essylt shifted around uncomfortably, but put her hand on her stomach. “In here. It’s only about the size of a blueberry now. That’s what my books say. He or she should be here in time for Christmas. I can’t wait!”

The mother frowned, and pulled her daughter away. “Come, Claire. We need to get going.” The mother gave Essylt a look of distain and pulled her daughter away. Little Claire turned though and waved as her mother pulled her away.

Essylt finished her salad and walked out of the food court and over to the movie theater.

—————

A few hours later
The parking lot outside the mall
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt made a note to herself, mentally to avoid romantic comedies from now on. It was getting late, and she knew her mother would be worried. She had picked up a couple of Celtic music CDs, in addition to the books and magazines, and was walking through the parking lot happily swinging her bags. That’s when the boys stepped out from behind the large van. There were five of them, all done up in faux-thug wannabe outfits that totally did not fit the upscale suburban upper-middle class environment.

“Yo girlie!”, One of the boys said, a skinny white kid with spikey hair, pants too low, and a muscle shirt showing off his total lack thereof. “You wanna go out on a date?”, he asked, as he grabbed her arm in a tight grip.

“No, my mom is waiting for me at home, I have to go.” She tried to walk off, but he held tight. “Let go, my mom wouldn’t like it if you kept me here. She’s in law enforcement and can be … pretty mean if she feels someone has messed with me.” The group of boys scoffed and encircled her.

Essylt case a simple illusion, causing it to look like blue flame was surrounding her fists. “You boys have 3 options. One, you can let me go and walk away. Two, I can open up some magical whup-ass on you. Or three, the invisible woman behind you can show herself and SHE can open up said can.” With that, Essylt smirked and nodded seemingly at nobody. With a sigh, Starfield dropped her invisibility spell, revealing herself in full costume, and crossed her arms, glaring at the boys.

Deciding discretion being the better part of valor, the boys slunk off with their heads down and proverbial tails between their legs.

Charity Lee looked at the teen sidhe and shook her head. “How long have you known I was following you?”

Essylt grinned. “Since the house. I CAN detect magic in use, you know, and I know the feel of your magic.”

With a sigh, Charity ducked behind a van and looked around. Determining the coast was clear, she used a spell to change from her costume into a simple jeans and sweatshirt ensemble. She walked Essylt home and then said her goodbyes at the door.

Entering the house, Essylt ran up to her mom and gave her a big hug. “I had so much fun. Thank you! … oh, and Starfield says hello…”

Leaving her mother embarrassed, Essylt skipped happily up to her room to listen to her new CDs.

bonus picture of Essy at Eden Prairie Center (Different outfit than in the story)



Should fix the error I made with the last post originally being in the wrong topic before I changed it.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 24
—————

June 1st
The Baker-Smith residence
Eden Prairie, Minnesota


Essylt lay on the couch, tired. She had just been to the Doctor, having had her 10 week check-up. Everything seemed fine, and she heard the baby’s heartbeat for the first time. She smiled, rubbed her tummy, turned green and reached for the bucket that sat beside her. She wearily got up and emptied the bucket into the toilet before rinsing it out. Her clothes felt a little tight, and it wouldn’t be long now before she would have to switch to maternity clothes. She frowned, took off the tight bra and just decided to go the rest of the day without it.

Marching over to the computer, Essylt sat down and turned it on. She ran her fingers through her hair absent-mindedly, it was getting a little long, she would need a trim to get rid of the split ends soon. With all the inconveniences of the pregnancy, she was debating just letting it grow out.

“I wonder what I’d look like with long hair, She pondered as she entered ‘long red hair’ into the search engine. The results came back quickly, and she flipped through the pictures. Seeing one thumbnail that caught her interest, she opened up the page, and let the image load. As soon as it loaded, Essylt looked at the image, shocked.

“MOM!”, She screamed as she looked at it. The girl in the picture appeared to be naked, but that wasn’t what drew her attention to her. It was the girl’s face, a face that looked similar enough to be her sister, at the very least.

LeAnna heard her daughter’s startled cry and rand down the stairs as fast as her exemplar strength could carry her. She found Essylt at the computer, looking at an image. LeAnna approached and looked. There was a girl standing naked, with leaves swirling around her. She wasn’t quite as curvaceous and endowed as Essylt, but she was close. The girl had violet eyes and longer hair, but the resemblance was still uncanny. Biting her lip, LeAnna reached for the phone and began to dial.


—————

That same moment
Whateley Academy
Near Dunwich, New Hampshire

Elizabeth Carson sat at her desk, the school year was completed, but there was still paperwork, there was always paperwork. The office was largely vacant, with many of the staffers already off on vacation. She sighed.

“Heavy lies the head that wears the crown.”, she mused. Just then the phone rang, distracting her from her idle thoughts.

“Whateley Academy, Elizabeth Carson speaking.”, she said as she checked the ID on her gadgeteer-built phone. The number was unfamiliar, but the area code indicated it was from the Twin Cities.

“Liz, it’s Gavia. I need to talk to you about something.”, the voice on the other end stated flatly.

Liz Carson paused, “Is this about the sidhe girl that’s in your care?”, she inquired. She was wary, things were going on at the school that made anything involving sidhe made her uncomfortable.

“I adopted her, and yes it’s indirectly about my daughter. She was on the internet and it seems she found a picture of a sidhe girl, one that looks uncannily like her. I don’t know if you have seen the picture or not, it’s a young red-haired sidhe girl surrounded by leaves. She isn’t wearing anything, at least nothing that can be seen.”, came the response from the other end.

Liz sighed before answering. “Nikki Reilly, yes she is a student here. A rather troublesome one, at that.”

“I… see. I know Brogue spoke to you about my daughter briefly. This picture troubles me though. I’m going to send you an e-mail, and I think you’ll see why I’m concerned after seeing this Nikki girl.”, Stated LeAnna in a hesitant tone.

Liz opened her mail and shortly an e-mail arrived. She opened it up and her eyes went wide. it couldn’t be, it just couldn’t. “She looks like Nikki, not exactly, but close enough to be a blood relative, surely. This worries me even more. What do you know about the Five-Fold Court, and the Sundering?”

“Not much.”, replied LeAnna uncertainly.

Liz Carson sat back in her chair and for the next hour told LeAnna everything she knew about Aunghadhail, Queen of the West. When she finished, she politely hung up, with a promise to look more into things from her end. After having done so, Elizabeth Carson reached into her desk and pulled out a bottle of exemplar-strength headache medicine.

—————

Shortly after
The Baker-Smith residence
Eden Prairie, Minnesota


LeAnna turned from the phone, and looked at Essylt, who was sitting uneasily in a chair nearby. Picking the phone back up, she called to the Headquarters and spoke to Brogue, informing him she would be taking a few days off, and that the team was in his hands. LeAnna then walked over to her daughter and hugged her.

“Essy, I think that tomorrow you and I need to go on a little trip. Pack your bags, we are going to the airport and taking off for a few days.”

“Where are we going, Momma?”, Came Essylt’s uneasy response.

“New Hampshire.”, LeAnna said with a visible frown.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 25
—————

June 2nd
Whateley Academy
Near Dunwich, New Hampshire


Essylt looked uneasy as she looked at the school gates, those big faceless gargoyles had a touch of magic to them, she could tell. She could see magic all around her, the ley lines in this place were confusing. Some looked as if they had been moved or pulled out of place.
Still, Mom had a good reason for this trip, surely.

After getting cleared by security, they Drove up to a lot by an impressive building. “This is Schuster Hall, where Ms. Carson has her office. Be on your best behavior Essy, She may seem nice, but she is shrewd, and can read people very well. No, she’s not a telepath, but all the same, be careful to not get carried away.”

Essylt nodded her agreement, and the two of them walked into the offices. On the way, they stopped at the security desk and signed in. At the desk was a young woman, who certainly appeared to be too young to be in security, but LeAnna knew never to judge by appearance, especially not at Whateley.

“Hi, is Chief Delarose in? I’d like to speak with him, if he’s available.”, Leanna said in a friendly tone.

“I’ll see if he’s available, who should I tell him is here?”, Said the young woman.

“Kindly tell him that Gavia is here, and would like to talk to him if he has a free minute.”

Sam Everheart accessed the past student files and located Gavia’s, giving it a fast read, via her enhanced nanotech abilities. She nodded and Looked up.

“I’ll let the chief know you are here to see him.” Sam smirked, noting how frequently Gavia had been into see security back in her days as a student. She picked up the phone and pressed the intercom button.

“Chief, I have a visitor here to see you.” Sam nodded as she listened to her boss. “Okay, he can see you. Go right in.”

Sam ushered the woman and the young girl beside her back to Delarose’s office.

Franklin Delarose looked up from the daily activity reports and looked towards the door. “Come in.”, he said.

A rather short blonde woman with bright blue eyes walked in. She was wearing a navy skirt and blazer over a white v-neck shirt that showed off ample cleavage. There was a girl with her, clearly a sidhe. At first glance he had mistakenly thought that it was Fey, but the hair was too short, the eye color was wrong, and she appeared to be more endowed than Nikki Reilly.

“Can I help you?”, the chief asked uncertainly.

The blonde woman looked at him and smiled. “Chief, it’s been a long time.”

“I’m sorry, do I know you?”, He asked, looking uneasily at the woman. He really had wished that Everheart had told him who this was, as he was drawing a blank.

The woman smiled and closed her eyes, as she hit a button on her watch, turning off the camouflage holo-contacts she wore. Then she reached up and removed the blonde wig, revealing salt and pepper hair. When she opened her eyes, he noticed the contrasting black with red irises.

“Heh, you always were a master of disguise, even when you were just a fresh-faced thing in her first semester. LeAnna, I didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you all this way from Minnesota?”

LeAnna was impressed, Franklin Delarose had been there for her many times when she had been a student, but to know he had kept track of her was touching.

“I’m here to see Carson, it’s about my daughter here.” LeAnna nodded towards the young girl next to her.

“I see.”, said Delarose. “When your mother was a student here, she was always getting dragged in here for one fight or another.”

LeAnna frowned and looked at her daughter. She could just picture Brogue teasing her about some story that Essy had regaled him in.

“Most of those weren’t my fault. Most of the bullies thought it was a good idea to pick on the girl with the ‘Spirit of the Loon’. I had to persuade them otherwise. I was only minimally involved with the Incident with the Cape Squad getting locked in the Bad Seeds’ clubhouse. And I sure didn’t help either side in the ensuing feud.” LeAnna said defensively.

Delarose chuckled. “And now here you are, a full-fledged hero.” He looked over at Essylt. “Your mother was quite the hellion back then. We had more bullies end up in the Medical Center in her first semester than we normally see in an entire year. It’s a pity you came while most of the students are away. I’m sure Liz would have loved you to give a chance to address the student body. And frankly there is a student that I wish you had a chance to talk to personally. She has the ‘Spirit of the Squirrel’, and was picked on a lot like you were. To see someone similar to herself, who has gone on to do great things would help her confidence a lot.”

“I’ll ask Liz if I could do just that some time during the school year. But for now, we need to go talk to her about other matters. It was nice to see you when I wasn’t in trouble, for once.” LeAnna smiled and turned, escorting Essylt out.

Delarose smiled and looked at the door after the two had gone. To see the girl that the students had once called ‘Detention Duck’ and ‘Loony LeAnna’ make something out of herself, that sort of feeling was one of the reasons he loved his job so much.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 26
—————

June 2nd
Whateley Academy
Near Dunwich, New Hampshire


Liz Carson looked at the two people sitting in front of her. LeAnna Baker-Smith had been a frequent thorn in her side as a student, and it seemed that she had not stopped bringing trouble to her. The young woman sat in the chair on the left, her blonde wig, casually in her lap. Beside her sat a young girl, about 13 or 14, with red hair, the unmistakable ears of a sidhe peeking out. The girl was fidgeting with the drawstrings of the hoodie she had on, looking around cautiously.

“So, Essylt, is it? Tell me about yourself. Your mother and I talked about some things on the phone the other day, but I want to hear what you have to say about yourself.”, Liz Carson said in a friendly manner.

“Well, I don’t remember much. First thing I remember was seeing a four leaf clover in the snow. Then darkness. I Know something happened to me, because after that there was nothing for a while. Then I remember walking the streets, but it was more like watching a recording of something, instead of remembering yourself doing it. A bad man picked me up. I didn’t know he was bad. Back then I couldn’t think like I can now. Everything was like instinct, not thought.”

Liz nodded and leaned back in her chair. “I see… go on.”, She said in a neutral tone.

Well, back then, I wasn’t whole. The bad man sought to use me like a prostitute. I didn’t know it was wrong at the time, since I was just a tiny piece of awareness adrift in a vast sea. As men continued to use me for sex though, I discovered my touch telepathy, and started to copy bits and pieces of awareness, of language, and of comprehension. I eventually made myself into a real person. Something went wrong though, and the man who was using me became dangerous. He decided I had to die. I would have, if Mom and Uncle Sean hadn’t arrived just in time.”

“I find it amazing that you built your consciousness like that. That’s something that even the most skilled telepaths would have trouble doing.”, Carson remarked.

At that point, LeAnna spoke up. “Our theory is that she has a subtle probability warping power. It’s certainly not powerful enough that she can consciously use it, but it seems she tends to have things often fall in her favor, on some small level. We think that subtle ability guided her attempts to stitch the fragments together into a cohesive unit.”

Liz looked at the girl and simply stated. “Amazing. I think that maybe a visit to see Professor Geintz might be in order.”

LeAnna perked up at hearing that name. “C’thulu Cuttlefish is still here?”

LIz felt like face-palming, but restrained herself. “Ah yes, I remember now. You would often visit him on your many detentions.”

The smile on Carson’s face disappeared as she thought. “Now, as far as the issue that brought you out here… Nikki Reilly. I certainly do see a resemblance between you two, almost like sisters. Essylt, I know you have studied up on sidhe history and the Sundering. What do you know of Aunghadhail, The Queen of the West?”

When she heard that name, Essylt panicked. She fell backward in her chair and crawled away her hands up warding off invisible blows.

“I’ll be good, don’t hurt me. Please. Don’t hurt us! I’ll be good!” Terror and panic was clear on the young girl’s face.

Liz stood up, shocked at the response to that name. “LOUIS!”, she shouted frantically.

A ghostly image appeared out of nowhere. A mental projection of a kind man in an English bowler hat and fancy suit.

The image of Louis Geintz bent down and gently used his powers to soothe the girl, while doing so, he looked at LeAnna. “LeAnna, always a pleasure. I think that we need to get your your girl over to Doyle, simply for monitoring.”

“There is a complication, Nikki Reilly is still on campus, I think at the moment all measures should be taken to keep Nikki and Essylt as far away from each other as possible.”

Carson thought for a second and reached for her intercom. “Amelia, please locate Sanctuary and have her report to my office as soon as possible.”

Within a few minutes there was a knock at the door.

A small blonde girl, obviously sidhe, poked her head in the door. "You wished to see me, Mrs. Carson?”

The girl’s jaw dropped when she saw the other girl laying on the floor, curled up in a ball and crying.

“Rhiannon, this is Essylt. She’s visiting here. Please escort her to Doyle, and this is important... Fey is NOT to know anything about her, she is not to see her, nor know she is here. Is that understood?”

Rhiannon swallowed hard. “Yes, Mrs. Carson, understood.”

Rhiannon placed her hand on Essylt’s back, and helped her up. After the two girls left, Liz Carson looked at LeAnna and then over to Louis. “So, now what?”, she asked.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 27
—————

June 3rd
Whateley Academy
Near Dunwich, New Hampshire

Essylt was mad. No, that would not be the correct term. She was pissed. Why she knew the name of Aunghadhail, Queen of the West and Daughter of the Burning Oak, she did not know. Nor did she know why that very same name struck such violent anger and fear in her. All she knew was that the two of them had unfinished business, somehow. The stay overnight at Doyle had done her some good. Ophelia Tenant had given her a thorough check-up, and all was good. Better than good. She got to hear the baby’s heartbeat again, and see more ultrasounds. Louis had popped in on occasion to see how she was doing, and to test her telepathic receptiveness.

Dr. Tenant had released her, and Rhiannon came to visit her, and take her to tour the campus. Essylt found it curious, but every now and then, her companion would get a phone call, and the two would steer off in another direction.

“Who keeps calling you?”, Essylt inquired after about the 3rd call.

Rhiannon looked over at her fellow sidhe sheepishly. “Well, you see. I was sort of told to keep you away from Nikki Reilly. And well, Zephyr has no great love for Fey, so she agreed to keep an eye on her, and report to me of her location, so we can avoid it.”

Essylt bit her lip. “ I… see. If Mrs. Carson and my Mom agreed to that, I guess they know what they are doing. I guess we have to trust them.”

Sanctuary looked at her uncertainly. That was when they noticed a large boulder-sized boy walking their way. He approached, and Rhiannon backed off cautiousy.

“Ladies.”, He said with a smarmy smile. “I’m Brigand, I’m going to be attending here this fall, but they have me here early for some tests and an orientation. Tell me, are all Whateley girls as hot as you two?”

Rhiannon rolled her eyes. “I’m Sanctuary, and sorry, I don’t date freshmen, especially incoming ones. Plus, we were just leaving.”

“Hold on, sugar-tits. I only asked a question.” he reached for Essylt’s arm and grabbed it. “ Now what’s your name, sweet thing and would you like to go out with me?”

“You may refer to me as Eire, and no, I would not.” Essylt tried to pull away, but he had a firm grip on her upper arm. It actually was starting to hurt.

Sanctuary reached for her phone but Brigand saw. With his free hand, he swatted at the phone, inadvertently hitting Rhiannon with more force than was intended. She managed to partially deflect the blow with a force field, but was still hit hard enough to be knocked to the ground, unconscious. Brigand looked at the girl that was still standing. Her grey eyes were glowing with an eerie light. The wind seemed to pick up, small dust devils began to swirl around her, and at the same time his hair began to stand on end. Electricity arced and flowed over her skin.


—————

Liz Carson looked over her desk at the battered and bruised boy sitting before her. To one side Rhiannon Warrensby sat, an ice pack against her jaw. On the other side sat LeAnna Baker-Smith, and her daughter.

“Mr. Dickey, do you realize how much trouble you are in right now?”, Carson said in that manner of hers that had made full-grown men quiver and wet themselves.

Clearly Richard Dickey did not. “With all due respect Ma’am, I prefer to be called Brigand.”

Carson glared at the boy. “As far as I’m concerned, your name is ‘mud’, for all I care. Assaulting a student and a visitor, inappropriate contact, sexual harassment. Lying to security… And don’t try to deny that, the campus is monitored by security via a network of cameras. If you are lucky, all I’m going to do is expel you.”

Richard swallowed hard. “ And… and if I’m unlucky?”, he asked hesitantly.

Liz Carson smiled. “Let me give you a history lesson. About 10 years ago, there was a student, a small girl with a set of seemingly unimpressive powers, that caused all sorts of issues around here. She was considered a member of the Underdogs. Those, if you don’t know, are students that have relatively low-level powers that make them ideal targets for bullies. This small girl defied those odds, She would routinely beat up all the campus bullies, often so badly that we considered putting her on the Ultra-Violent list. This girl was remarkable. So remarkable that in training simulations, she actually managed to beat a specially assigned instructor no less than 5 times. That instructor was me, by the way.”

Brigand looked at Carson, wondering why she was telling him this story.

Liz Carson smiled a mischievous grin. “Wondering why I’m telling you that little piece of history?”

Brigand nodded, perplexed.

The blonde woman looked at him, seemingly boring holes into him with her eyes. “I’m telling you that story because if I decide not to stop at expulsion, I might let that very same individual deal with you for assaulting her daughter… her pregnant daughter, I might add.”

The light dawned in Brigand’s head, and he looked over at the diminutive woman sitting to his right. She smiled a big smile, and gave him a little wave. It was at that point that Brigand’s bladder finally surrendered to his fear.

Liz Carson lowered her head and shook it, before reaching for the phone.

“Maintanance? Yes, this is Elizabeth Carson, I need another clean-up in my office. Yes, that’s right, another Code P.” Liz hung up after giving the code for clean-up of liquid bodily waste.

Turning towards Essylt, Liz sighed and asked, “ Now, what do we do about you?”

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 28
—————

June 3rd
Whateley Academy
Near Dunwich, New Hampshire

Essylt looked fearfully at Mrs. Carson. The bully had been escorted from the building, and likely the school grounds. But the way Carson had asked about what they would do with her had her more scared.

Liz Carson looked at the scared girl. “I’m sorry, I should have stated that differently. While we would very much welcome you at Whateley, there are certain logistical issues we aren’t prepared for. Namely, what to do with a student that is expected to give birth during the school year, and how to deal with a student that has a child. Plus there is the added complication of Nikki Reilly. She is a good girl normally, but there have been some… stressful issues she has been dealing with that might be exacerbated by your presence.”

Essylt nodded and lowered her head.

Carson looked at her, and continued speaking. “However, after discussing things with your mother, I think we have a possible solution. You will be homeschooled during the remainder of your pregnancy, with a focus on bringing you in during the winter semester. Whateley has been trying to find a qualified teacher for our aquatic combat training program for quite a while. With your mother’s recommendation, we are going to be bringing on a new teacher, You will be staying with her and her husband in the teacher’s village, after your admittance.”

Essylt looked at her mother, confused. Surely she wasn’t going to abandon her and dump her off with some stranger.

LeAnna saw the look of confusion on her daughter’s face. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to stay with Renata and Bill?”

Essylt’s eyes opened wide… she loved Renata and Bill, but more importantly that meant she would be staying with Roger!
She smiled and thought of the cute little corgi. Even though she was smiling, she was also sad. Coming all this way for school meant she would miss Mom and Sean and her friends Charity and Connie, and Pete the desk officer at the HQ, who always shared his grilled cheese sandwiches with her, and everyone else.

Essylt sat there smiling, tears streaming down her face. Liz Carson gave her a friendly smile and handed her a tissue.

“I remember pregnancy hormones. Cheer up, things will be okay.”, the Headmistress said.


—————

The same day
Como Park Conservatory
St. Paul, Minnesota

Brogue cursed as he watched helplessly. He was pinned under the rubble of the steel and glass dome. Starfield was holding on, but barely. Her force bubble was taking a pounding, and he could see the feedback from the impacts jarring the girl about. MIndweaver was laying on her side, behind her teammate. There was a trickle of blood trailing from her nose.

Pulling himself from the wreckage, Brogue staggered forward, his right arm was limp at his side, the remnants of his shillelagh in his left.

“Tamara, lass, ye don’ want ta be doin’ this. We were yer friends, We tried to help ye!”, He shouted.

“Help me? Help me? That’s a lie! You all sat around as my powers ate me alive. I found help, I found a cure, and I found power! You all feared me, you tried to keep me under your thumb!”, screamed Tamara Woods, once the hero named Tamarack.

Starfield strained under the pressure being applied to her shield. She WOULD NOT QUIT! Mindweaver depended on her to keep her safe.

Tamarack turned her attention from Brogue back to her would-be replacements. She had killed Bluebell and Sunstroke, but those were minor losses, needed for the summoning of the Jubokko. With the power she had gained from the ritual, she had stopped her Chimerical Trait Acquisition, and she had gained great power. So what if people had to die? That would have bothered ‘old her’, but this was for the greater good. And if the people she had once thought of as friends had to die, so much the better.

Tamarack had grown in stature to nearly 50 feet, and was advancing on the spot where her plant minions had the heroes pinned down. The tree creatures she had created were giving the new mage a hard time, she would come and deliver the coup de grace, as it were. She reached the new girl and was ready to strike, when suddenly she felt a painful burning on her bark-like skin. She looked around and saw Defcon had arrived. He was holding what looked like his old napalm cannon. That could tip the balance in their favor. Reluctantly, Tamarack ran for the lake and waded in, shrinking as she did. With the fire out, she swam to the other shore and vanished.

Brogue staggered over and once Starfield lowered her shield, he picked up the battered Mindweaver. The team was in no shape to pursue.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 29
—————

June 10th
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt sat on the couch, they had been home nearly a week. She rubbed her stomach absent-mindedly. she was just beginning to show, and not many noticed it yet, but she felt a little self-conscious. She ran the fingers of her other hand through her hair. She had decided to grow it out, after seeing Fey’s hair. She looked around, her mother had headed in to the HQ early, Essylt had asked to come, but her mom had emphatically said no. Ever since they had gotten back everyone seemed on edge. She had asked about it, but nobody would tell her anything. It was frustrating.

—————

That same day
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Gavia was uneasy. Tamarack had torn through the team methodically. Mindweaver was still in intensive care at Hennepin County Medical Center. Starfield had a broken arm that was stubbornly refusing to heal, even with her Exemplar regeneration. Brogue was physically okay, but he had all but locked himself in the gymnasium, refusing to come out. He took the defeat hard. If Defcon hadn’t shown up, they would likely all be dead. She looked over at the Devisor, he was busily working on his cybernetic legs, determined to get them combat ready. They needed an edge, something to help them against Tamarack, but what?

—————
That afternoon
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt was frustrated. She had been out in the neighborhood many times, trying to meet kids her own age. She laughed at that. Her own age… she was what, 15? Or was she four months old? She really didn’t know. The girls shunned her, calling her a skank, a freak, a whore, a mutie. The boys all wanted in her pants. Maybe she would make friends at her new school?
She smiled when she thought about it. She would be at a school where there were other sidhe, where there were kids her age, she would have Renata there and Bill was going to be on campus with security, and she would have Roger there too!
Still, she would miss Mom, and the others.

Listless, she grabbed her phone and decided to check on what was going on. Everyone was upset about this Tamarack person, so she thought she should find out who she was. Reaching over to the end table, she grabbed her phone and accessed the Overseer database.

—————
The previous September
Twin Cities Overseer HQ,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tamara Woods felt ill, She had gone up to the roof, because she was hungry. Her mutant physiology and her CTA required her to get plenty of sun for her to photosynthesize. She had spent all day up there, and it was not enough. She was frustrated, the researchers at the University had had no breakthroughs, nor had those at the Mayo Clinic. She had heard rumors of a bio-devisor who could help, but his connections to Karedonia made her hesitant.

Tamara went into her room and filled the bathtub. She stood in the water, letting it absorb through her feet. As she drank, she thought. Mother had always said that the answers would come with magic. Mom had been a great nature mage, having fought in many battles against the enemies of nature. Tamara thought that mother was a little too militant, but perhaps she was right. Perhaps the answer did reside in magic.

Stepping out of the bath, She looked in the full length mirror that hung on the door. She saw he monstrosity that she was becoming. Her skin was smooth and grey, peeling in sections just like birch bark. She had lost her beautiful black hair, and long willow-like green tendrils had grown in its place. Her feet had grown more toes, splayed and gnarled, so that they looked like roots. She laughed, a deep throaty laugh, she looked more entish or dryad than human. That would change, yes, that would change.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 30
—————

June 15th
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota


Essylt lay on the couch, petting Roger. Renata and Bill had gone to New Hampshire for interviews and to ready their new place. They had left Roger in Essylt’s care. She idly alternating between petting Roger and petting her stomach. She was starting to show. The morning sickness had finally stopped, but the heartburn that replaced it was of no comfort. Putting aside her maternity book that she wasn’t entirely paying attention, she got up and went for Roger’s leash. Maybe a nice walk would settle her restlessness. She looked at her cotton sweats, the black pants and green hoodie with the hood up, she could probably get away with avoiding the stares any other time, but it was hot out. The heat didn’t bother her, as her magics largely negated that. No, the thick sweats would draw attention due to the weather. She sighed and ran upstairs.

A short time later, Essylt was walking along the boulevard, in a pair of green shorts and a green Minnesota Timberwolves tee. Roger ran alongside her, as fast as his stubby little legs could carry him. They stopped and relaxed underneath a tree at the park.
A couple mothers walked their children over cautiously, the little ones curious about the “pretty elf girl” and her cute puppy. Essylt smiled and answered questions, and let the kids pet Roger. Roger for the most part acted like a little ham, nuzzling the kids and wagging his tail. It was a wonderful afternoon.

The day went on, and the kids and parents eventually left. Essylt was a little tired, and she wanted to get home for dinner. Mom was going to be away at work until late. Ever since Tamarack’s attack in St. Paul, everyone was putting in late hours. Having read the file on her, Essylt certainly understood why. In order to stop the condition that was slowly killing her, Tamarack had ambushed Bluebell, her best friend on the team, and had sacrificed her to a tree demon. When the others found out, they attempted to capture her, but in the melee, Tamarack killed Sunstroke by impaling her with a sharp tendril. In the confusion, Tamarack had escaped.

Arriving back at the house, Essylt didn’t sense anything was wrong. She let Roger off the leash and walked into the living room. She was startled to see a figure shrouded in cloaks and loose fabric standing at the mantleplace, looking over the photos.

“Excuse me, but who are you, and why are you in my house?”, Essylt demanded. The woman turned, revealing her shrouded face. Her eyes were a vibrant green, her skin was white and flecked with brown, peeling in places. She had green fronds, like a willow, that hung down from her head. She raised a finger towards the girl, pointing at her. Suddenly the finger extended and grew towards Essylt. She dodged it, as it struck the wall, boring through it.

“I came looking for your mother. I did not know she had adopted a daughter. This will make my vengeance all the more sweet.”, the mysterious woman stated.

Essylt hurried away, through the kitchen, out into the backyard. Along the way, she grabbed her cudgels and shillelagh from where they were hanging beside the coatrack. Uncle Sean was adamant that she try to get in at least an hour or two a day of forms and practice, and she often did them in the backyard.

Dodging the hail of wooden flechettes the woman produced, she rolled out the door. The stranger followed, breaking and warping the floor, the walls, anything containing wood. She stood in the sunlight, and cast her cloaks aside with a shrug, revealing her unclothed body. She had nothing on, save for moss that seemingly grew in strategic places. There were small twigs and branches poking from her body in random places, she had leaves sprouting here and there.

The woman, whom Essylt was now sure was Tamarack, motioned towards her, seemingly in concentration. The shileilegh and cudgels shook slightly, as her opponent tried to pervert them, but the mithril bound into them neutralized her abilities. Frustrated, Tamarack stopped and moved towards the sidhe girl. She heard a bark and saw a dog behind her. With a slight gesture, she flicked a hand, and smacked the dog aside. It whined and cowered where it landed, too terrified to move.

Essylt looked at her opponent, a rage was building in her. “YOU. HURT. ROGER!”, she screamed. The air became still, unnaturally still. Dust devils began to swirl as the clouds rolled in. Thunder could be heard in the distance.

Tamarack looked at the girl, a sudden fear penetrated her calm facade. Not since the sacrifice, not since she had given herself over to evil, had she felt anything like this. She looked at the girl, her grey eyes were glowing a bright silver. Ghostly flames danced about her skin. The wind began to whip around them, the girl’s hair floating in the tempest.

Essylt looked at her opponent and a smile grew on her face.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 31
—————

June 15th
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Tamara Woods had never set out to be evil. Quite the contrary, When she had discovered her mutant powers, she had hoped to become a hero, to show up her mother. Mom was a nature mage of impressive power, but she used her powers selfishly, robbing and stealing, and committing eco-terrorism. Tamara had practiced her powers in secret, and then when her mother found out about them, she shipped Tamara off to a coven that lived in secret near the Boundary Waters. Training had been rigorous and long, but she had come out stronger for it. Once she turned 18, she drew the attention of the hero population, and was invited to join the Overseers.

She had been happy, and had not wanted to kill Bluebell, far from it. Paula had been her best friend. When she learned of her CTA, Paula had been there for her. She took her to her medical appointments, spent time with her, and generally tried to cheer her up.

Tamara had read through her mother’s old tomes and found the summoning spell. It was desperation that drove her to try to summon the carnivorous plant demon. She had thought that it would be under her control, and she could bargain with it, make a contract with it. She had not understood the nature of the summoning, and when the two fused, she gained power, but she lost her soul. She became a creature of primal lust and hunger. When Bluebell came to take her to her next appointment that afternoon, Tamarack waited until she turned her back. She impaled her best friend through the heart, then slowly consumed her flesh. She fled when the rest of the team found out, managing to ambush Sunstroke before she left. The all-corrupting darkness of the demon filled her, making her into a monster, and she reveled in it.

—————

Essylt looked upon her opponent, a seething rage filling her. Roger was cowering not far away. If she didn’t do something, this monster would hurt him, hurt her, and… hurt the baby. That could not be tolerated. With her sidhe senses, Essylt could see that the enemy was pulling power from the earth, twisting the ley-lines, and draining the soil of life. Reaching out, Essylt, grabbed ahold of the lines, dragging them away from the villain.

Tamara screamed an inhuman scream, feeling the source of power being ripped from her grasp. She had heard of sidhe before, but had never encountered one. There were rumors floating around that the Necromancer had encountered one not much older than this girl on a couple occasions, and that he had only barely managed to escape those encounters.

“I will kill you, I will have my revenge on your mother! They made me a criminal, a murderer!”, the Mad woman ranted.

Essylt dodged a hail of flechette slivers and threw a fireball back. “You did that yourself! I read your file. You killed your best friend!”

Tamarack blistered under the heat of the fireball, her bark-skin bubbling and cracking. “She was delicious! I did what I had to! I did what I needed to stay alive! Is that so wrong?”

Essylt dodged a root that snaked along the ground, intending to wrap up her ankle. Lightning cracked overhead, as clouds rapidly formed and blotted out the sun. The temperature began to drop rapidly. Flurries fell about the combatants. the ground felt hard, Tamarack struggled to send her tendrils out through it. She wasn’t able to drain the summer energies. She felt sluggish. The cold was pushing her system into a dormant state. the leaves and vines on her body began to turn colors.

“I will fight you girl!”, Tamarack cried. “Your little display of weather will not stop me!” She was bragging, but there was no confidence in her words. She was succumbing to the cold. She lumbered at the girl, slower now. fireballs kept impacting upon her skin, her bark burning away. she could see spots of bone and wood through the open wounds. She was no longer human, but not entirely a plant. That was the trade-off for merging with the demon tree. She would no longer be human, but she would still be alive, aware. She could still move. She would not take root and lose her consciousness.

Her steps were agonizing. The girl was flaying the ‘flesh’ off her as she determinedly strode forward. The needles she threw at the girl were easily deflected by the winds swirling around her, or they burned up before reaching her. There was something she could do still. Like Medusa, Tamarack’s vine-like hair swirled under her control and extended towards the girl. It burned to touch her, but they wrapped around her wrists and ankles. She squeezed, wrapping tighter around the mage’s limbs, trying to pull her close. Tamarack would need to feed on a lot of life-force to recover from her wounds, and a sidhe surely had that in abundance.

Thunder boomed overhead, and lightning arced across the sky. A searing flash struck Tamarack, charring her badly. More bolts zig-zagged from the sky, hitting her and searing her. She screamed an inhuman death cry, as lightning and fire engulfed her.

Essylt crawled away, the villain had let go of her, in the midst of her death-throes. Crying, Essylt crawled over to Roger, picking up the dog, and holding him tight.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 32
—————

June 20th
Twin Cities Overseer HQ
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Essylt sat on the bed, the bed that had been hers once before. While the house wasn’t a loss, it would take a while to repair the damage incurred during the battle. Tamarack had warped floorboards, bent the framework, and twisted the joists. Additionally, there was a concern about her tainting the structure and the grounds. Mother had called in heavy favors and numerous mages from all across the country were assisting Starfield in adding protections, decontaminating the area, and generally making it so that another incident like this one could not happen again.

Sitting in the room was driving Essylt crazy. The investigation into the incident had finished, the BCA, FBI, and Sheriff’s department had managed to keep the MCO at bay, but she had still been interviewed for hours upon hours. Now that it was finished, she was bored. She continued her studies, working out and learning forms with Brogue. She was getting proficient in the forms of Irish martial arts he was teaching her, even though they were hands off sessions. Mindweaver had cut back their sessions, as Essylt was rapidly approaching the limit of what the telepath could teach her. She was still practicing with Starfield, but it was evident that the young girl had surpassed her teacher’s level of power. Instead they worked on the essentials of storing essence, as Essylt had a tendency to leak out essence at a rapid pace. It would be important for the girl to maintain a tighter reign on her emotional state, something that was getting increasingly difficult as her pregnancy advanced.

—————

Meanwhile
Near the Baker-Smith residence
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

The squirrel sat in the tree, chewing on a seed-pod it had found. Looking down from its vantage point, it could see the humans wandering around, light and energy springing from their hands. I watched warily, unaware that in the hollow of the tree it dwelt in, an acorn split open. a small tendril slowly slithered up behind it. Wrapping the tendril around the squirrel’s neck, it dragged the poor creature back into the hollow.

—————

Later that afternoon
Twin Cities Overseer HQ
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Essylt wandered around the HQ, it was largely empty, save for a few officers that remained to man the communications and security areas. Mom had taken Charity and Cassie to the house to help with the efforts there. Uncle Sean was off, visiting his mother. James was around, but he had locked himself in his lab, and given instructions not to be disturbed, unless it was an emergency. Sighing, Essylt fidgeted in boredom, and went back to her room. She lay on the bed and squirmed uncomfortably. One of the drawbacks of this part of her pregnancy was her elevated sex drive. Feeling somewhat horny, Essylt gave up and got undressed and began to work her way through her frustrations.


—————

A few hours later
Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Essylt walked down the sidewalk, taking in the scenery of the downtown area, she had her purse and knew her spending limit that her mother had mandated. Walking through the skyway, she drew stares everywhere she went. Her ears stuck out from her hair, which had been gathered back in a short ponytail. A nice oversized cotton jersey and shorts hid her developing baby bump, and her rolled up ankle socks and canvas high tops accentuated the casual but cute outfit. She had on her mithril collar, and a small purse was slung over her shoulder.

She walked into Target, and bumped into a boy that was running out. He looked up at her with his dark eyes, eyes that had no iris or pupil. They were solid black. Struggling to his feet, he sped off, Essylt watched as a security guard ran out after him. It appeared as though he was a shoplifter, possibly. Another guard came up, and offered her a hand up. When that guard saw her pointed ears though, he grabbed her and cuffed her with a pair of cuffs that felt kind of warm. They must be iron handcuffs, but why would a store security guard have iron handcuffs?, she thought. Something was up, something that didn’t make sense.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 33
—————

June 20th
Secret Humanity First meeting hall
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Frank Tadesco grumbled as he looked at the girl’s MID. Of all the bad luck, they had grabbed a girl with connections. Powerful connections. This was not some street urchin, like the countless ones they routinely grabbed trying to shoplift from where he worked. He would be in serious trouble. He looked over his shoulder at the monitor. The girl was sitting, eyes closed in the lotus position. there were faint crackles of energy swirling around her, but they would spark and cause her to cry out when they hit the iron cuffs. It was clear she was a magic user of some sort. the fact that she could even attempt magic while cuffed seemed to hold credence to the ranking on the card he held. He had to make her disappear, but he couldn’t kill her. He didn’t want the damned heroes investigating.

With a sigh, he picked up the phone and called a number. If anyone could get him out of this situation, it was Fixer Malone.


—————

Essylt strained against the cuffs, her skin was red and itched, if not for her magic choker, her wrists would surely be badly burned and she would be in intense pain. She knew she needed to get out, and her telepathy wouldn’t be enough. She clenched her teeth, and thought about her sessions with Sean. He had once showed her this technique, but she had hoped to never have to actually use it. Slowly, she backed up against the back wall of the cell, and pressed firmly against it. Twisting her wrist, she positioned her hand just right, and then threw herself against the wall. She felt the excruciating pain, as her thumb dislocated. she felt the tears come, and as she tried to ignore the pain, she slipped her hand through the left cuff.
she reached over with the right hand and took ahold of the left thumb and violently popped it back into place. She had one cuff off, and after repeating the ordeal, she got the other off. her hands were throbbing and numb, and she couldn’t move them, but now she could access her magics again.


—————

Mark Malone arrived at the location he had been given. He didn’t really like Tadesco, having always thought him too heavy-handed and thuggish. That the idiot had grabbed some girl with dangerous connections, was just more proof. Fortunately, he had gotten the reputation as a fixer for being able to clean up problems like this. A little injection of a few choice chemicals, the girl would forget the whole incident, and wake up in an alley somewhere none the wiser. He looked at the girl on the screen. she had her hands behind her back and was kneeling on the floor. It was a pity she was a mutant, because she was rather hot.

“What are we dealing with?”, Malone asked the idiot in front of him.

Frank heard the contempt in the man’s voice. “One of them sidhe elf things, a Mage...Also has some sort of telepathic ability.”

Malone scowled. “The drugs I use don’t work on telepaths, you fool. You are going down for this. I’m not getting in trouble for you. She hasn’t seen me.”

Frank scowled and reached for his piece, but as soon as Malone saw that. He did the same. Both men drew and fired. Frank slumped against the wall, leaving a bloody smear down it, from the large hole in his head. Malone faired no better, as the round he had taken penetrated his heart and tore its way through him.

—————

Unaware of her captors' condition, Essylt flexed her fingers, the pain in her thumbs kept her from moving them too much. after what seemed like hours, but was in fact closer to 45 minutes, she had enough feeling back in her hands. With some effort, She closed her eyes and focused. She felt her essence returning. Lashing out, Essylt launched a fireball at the locked cage door, blowing it off the hinges. Cautiously, she crept along the dark hallways, carefully searching the rooms she encountered.
Finally, she came upon the room containing her late captors. Scrounging around, she located her MID card and her phone and purse. She also found a file cabinet with files on known local mutants, including most of the team.

—————

A short time later.


Officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office were cordoning off the area, as BCA Agent Hansen interviewed Essylt. Gavia and Brogue were standing outside, talking to a couple of MCO officials. When he had seen the files and what was in them, Hansen had told the Overseer leader that they needed to distract the MCO, while he made the files “disappear”.
It bothered everyone how comprehensive the files were. Hansen picked a file that was labeled ‘J. Martin’, and pondered about just how much H1 knew that wasn’t in these files.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 34
—————

July 4th
Valleyfair Amusement Park
Shakopee, Minnesota


Essylt laughed and followed everyone around. She had her hair up in a ponytail, and her ears were visible against the side of her Baseball cap. Her blue tank top was tented out over her slight bump. she had a very healthy appetite, and even though she couldn’t ride any of the rides, she more than compensated by eating plenty of popcorn and cotton candy and ice cream. She frowned as she watched Sean wolfing down hotdogs. She had never gotten over the Sidhe dislike of meat, but she did feel envious.

Next summer she would have to come back and go on all the rides, she couldn’t this summer because of the baby. Wow, next year. Things would be so different. She’d be a mom, and she’d be a high school student at Whateley. Glancing over, she noticed that Sean was trying to talk her mother onto a rollercoaster. She couldn’t help but laugh. The brave leader of the Overseers, a woman who could fly… was afraid of a rollercoaster.

Cassie and Charity were sitting for a caricature picture, while James, ever the Devisor and Gadgeteer, was closely inspecting the details of the rides. It was a pity that Renata and Bill couldn’t be there, but they were already in New Hampshire getting the new house ready. Essylt frowned at that. She would be leaving Mom, and the others. She knew she could call and e-mail, but it was scary. Even scarier was the thought of meeting other teens. What if they didn’t like her? She had tried to make friends in the neighborhood, but between her being a mutant, and a Sidhe she made other kids nervous. Then there was the stigma. She rubbed her belly. She could occasionally feel a kick or movement. Parents didn’t want their kids hanging around her. “ terms like slut’ and ‘whore’ had been used. and It didn’t help when she tried to explain about being a prisoner, but that often fell on deaf ears. She didn’t tell them that she liked it, or that she had looked forward to the sex back then… back before she knew anything, back before she was herself.

Shaking off the introspection, she smiled and ran over to where her mother was being taunted for not wanting to go on the rollercoaster. She laughed and joined in the fun. The day passed quickly, as Essylt laughed and played. Sean was loaded down with all sorts of things that Essylt had won on ring-tosses, milk-bottle knock-downs, basket-shooting, and more. She laughed at the large, imposing man struggling to see where he was going, peering out from behind an ENORMOUS plush bunny.

moving to the picinic area of the park, the group sat down and at, Essylt feasted on pasta salad and potato salad, while Sean roasted the burgers and bratwurst. The corn was grilled, and smelled heavenly. Looking up with a face covered in butter and corn kernels, Essylt laughed. Root beer floats were produced, and the young girl hastily worked over hers. The others looked at her as she plowed through her food, but she assured them that her ravenous appetite was because she was “eating for two”. Eyes were rolled, and there was laughter from everyone.

Eventually, the sun went down and the group… no, her family were gathered on the bluffs overlooking the river valley. From up here they could look down and see the fireworks from Valleyfair, from the horse track, the casino, and from communities near and far. It was a spectacular view, one she would never forget. A little tired, Essylt nuzzled her face against Sean’s chest and fell asleep. She was unaware of her mother gently stroking her hair, or or of Charity covering her gently with a light blanket. The fireworks ended, and she was carried back to the car.

Arriving back at LeAnna’s house, Sean carried Essylt back up the stairs and gently laid the girl on her bed.

—————

From a nearby tree, the black squirrel observed her mortal enemy being carried into the house. it squealed and bolted down the tree and away from the house. It was too weak, It needed to feed and grow. This form wasn’t suitable. It needed to find a stronger one. At this size it could survive with killing insects, but that wasn’t enough… it wanted blood. it wanted to become powerful again. It fled and sought its way through the trees to the river bluff. It would hide in the forest, growing strong. In it’s plotting and planning, the squirrel never saw the coyote come up on it from behind, tearing it apart. The bloody remains sat there, blood seeping into the ground.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 35
—————

August 5th
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota


Essylt waddled around the house. At just over 18 weeks, she was really starting to feel the full impact of the pregnancy. The little terror was gleefully playing soccer with her bladder, or so she felt. She lay on the couch, looking over the ultrasound picture. She had specifically asked not to be told the baby’s gender, even though she pretty much already knew. There were definite downsides to being a touch telepath with a fetus touching your innards. Getting up, she walked into the kitchen, hovered over the sink, and vomited. Mom had been chiding her about being bigger than normal for how far along she was. It was unfair of her to snap back at her about how her mother would never get to experience it herself.

Essylt was sulking and sorry about her comments. She called to her mother’s cellphone, but it kept going to voicemail. The fact that Pinball had been possibly spotted entering Goodkind Tower had put an alert out, and the team was likely en route. Sighing, Essylt got up and went out to the front porch. She pulled the Twins cap over her hair, and cast a slight illusion to cover her ears. Now she looked like any other pregnant teen sitting on a porch swing. It was difficult for her in the neighborhood. There had been spray-painted messages about the “slut” and the “whore” graffiti’d on the fence and garage before, but now that she was actually showing, it was getting worse.

She cried, and swung on the swing. Adding into the mess were the whispers and rumors. Mom had done her best to keep it from getting out about Tamarack’s attack, but even the illusions, the spells, and memory traps were not enough. People passed around rumors of everything from a meth lab accident to mutant terrorists… (the fact they were right about that one was all that much more upsetting).

Waking up a couple hours later, Essylt cursed herself out quietly for having fallen asleep. She was in a foul mood, She was mad at herself for hurting mom, she was bored, and she was lonely. Wishing she could go to the school right away was doing no good, but at least she could get to know kids her age. She wiped a tear from her cheek. she was a freak, she knew that. Not the whole being a mutant thing, not the fact she was strictly not human, not even the pregnant teen thing. She was upset because she was 14 going on 5 months old. She had no idea how to relate to people her own age. She still had so many gaps in her experiences. She couldn’t remember growing up, she couldn’t remember the wonderment of being a child, and everything being new and wondrous to her. She was in that stage of life, but years too late. She loved her mother, she loved the members of the team, but it was hard to relate to them sometimes. They had lived, they had gone through so many things.

Walking into the house, Essylt sat down at the computer and logged on. Using her access to the Overseers data-net, She did a super search into what other kids her age were like. She pulled up all sorts of data and thumbed through blogs and Bookface accounts. Stopping at one, she read it with curiosity. A girl her age was talking about things that were alien to Essylt. Her period, cute boys, what to wear, going out on dates, envy at other girls' physical development, music, shopping.

Sighing, Essylt frowned and closed that page. She was pretty sure she had never had a period, having probably gotten pregnant her first time ovulating. She was beyond the stage of giggling and blushing at cute boys that were her age, Since she had been with dozens and dozens of men of all ages, even before gaining enough consciousness to know what she was doing. Males didn’t have any sort of mysterious giggly mystique for her. Fashion seemed a frivolous pursuit to Essylt. For her, there were only a few considerations. Did it contain synthetic materials, did it allow for full range of motion, could it conceal her sidhe features, and was it comfortable? Dates… that was a laugh. She was a sidhe, she was pregnant, and she would be going off to a school far away. If she even met a boy, there was zero chance at anything like a date. She knew instinctively that she was well developed physically, intimidatingly so. Some of her pregnancy weight she was gaining was going straight to her boobs, hips, and butt… as if they all weren’t big enough already.

Clicking on her iTunes, Essylt pulled up a selection of Celtic music and a few classical numbers that she liked. Sean had been a big influence on her tastes, when they worked out, he often put on something from his extensive Gaelic and European folk music library. Her mother had introduced a love of classical music and older rock and roll. Essylt just couldn’t get into modern pop music. Another potential sticking point that would likely alienate her from people her own age once she got to the school. When she got to New Hampshire, would her whole life be school, taking care of the baby, and being stuck in the teacher’s village? At least she would have Roger. She smiled at that. She could take the baby walking, as it slept in a baby carrier backpack. Roger walking at her side on his leash. That thought turned her smile into a frown. Her best friend was a dog. She curled up on the couch and cried, eventually falling asleep.

—————

Some time later.

LeAnna walked into the house, she was tired. They had staked out the Goodkind building, waiting for Pinball. After all that time, the anonymous tip had proven to be a case of mistaken identity. Many apologies had been made to the cause of the confusion. Springboard, a member in good standing of the Rochester team had been in town for her mother’s birthday, and a panicky security guard had called in a mis-identification of the tall, statuesque redheaded heroine.

Walking in quietly, she saw Essie asleep on the couch, dried tear streaks down the young girl's face. She smiled, having forgiven her daughter hours ago. Leaning in, she gently kissed her on the cheek, and then covered her in an afghan that had been slung over the back of the couch.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 36
—————

September 4th
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt sat on her customary spot on the porch swing, watching as kids of various ages gathered to board busses to school. Sighing, she sipped her iced tea and pondered. She would be heading off to school in January, She had watched all sorts of shows about school, but she didn’t feel prepared. She highly doubted that school would be like it was on the teen dramas or sit-coms she had watched. She felt a degree of trepidation. She would be surrounded by her supposed peers, but she didn’t know how to relate to kids her own age. Pfffft, she snorted. Kids her own age. She was closer to 6 months old than 14 years.

Adjusting her glasses, Essylt got up and walked inside. The new glasses felt funny, she was starting to get used to them, but it was weird. Who had ever heard of a far-sighted elf? Yes, yes. Sidhe, not elf. Still it made her a little self-conscious, even though Mom had told her that they made her look intelligent and thoughtful.

Flopping on the couch, Essylt felt tired. Her ankles were swollen and her feet hurt. She had a very noticeable baby bump now, and with that, no desire to go out and be a pariah. She wished Roger were there, instead of already being in New Hampshire. She stroked her belly and cried. It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t had time to live, to learn how to be a teen, to understand what it was to just be. Now she had another life growing inside her, one that would depend on her totally.

That thought made her stir. Getting up, she went to the back hall and got her cudgels and her shillelagh. Taking them out of the leather case she kept them in, she got out a small rag and began polishing them. Her cudgels were Bull-oak rods of about 18 inches long. They looked like escrima sticks, but were shorter. Each end was capped in a mithril ring, and mithril inlay ran down the length of the sticks, in intricate celtic tribal patterns. The sticks were extremely tough, with added spells to increase their durability. Going out to the back yard, Essylt practiced her forms. Uncle Sean had been an excellent teacher, working with her on her armed and unarmed combat. After a while, Essylt switched from practicing her forms, to practicing with her throws. The cudgels were enchanted with a spell that allowed them to return to her when thrown, so she worked on her marksmanship, choosing the large tree that still remained in the back yard. It had been abused by Tamarack during their fight, it’s roots used to try to ensnare Essylt, but the tree was tough. It had survived.

Essylt walked over to the tree and talked to it, promising not to hurt it too badly, and she thanked it for its help in this training. After a few dozen throws, she walked over to the tree and rubbed it, before casting a small healing spell on it. Turning next to her shillelagh, she took it out of it’s case and rubbed it down with oil. It was a longer weapon, at about 3 feet long, the ends were capped in mithril, one end having a large club. As with the cudgels, more mithril was inlayed into the wood, running the length of the weapon. The foot-end was enchanted to not wear down in use as a walking stick. Essylt practiced with the weapon, having learned traditional Irish Bataireacht form. After working on that form for a while, Essylt put down the weapon and spent some time on her Dornálaíocht and Speachóireacht forms.

After picking up her weapons, and cleaning them, Essylt walked into the house and went upstairs to take a shower. She was sweaty, and her feet and ankles hurt. After toweling off and drying her hair, she walked down and saw the message light on the phone was blinking. Checking the messages, there was a call from mom, she would be late, one of her oldest enemies, The Pimp, had escaped from prison. She had taken Brogue and Defcon with her to try to capture him. Sighing, Essylt went and fixed herself a rather large salad, and followed that up with a bowl of ice cream.

After dinner Essylt called to the headquarters and talked with Cassy for a while. She had been left behind, as had Charity, due to Pimp’s ability to manipulate women. They chatted for a while, Essylt confessing that she was bored. Cassy gave her some mental exercises to do, and the two said good night. Taking Mindweaver’s advice, she meditated for a whjile, keying her senses. She focused on reaching out with her senses, trying to feel her surroundings. That was when the kick surprised her. Returning her attention to the baby, she smiled and rubbed her tummy.

Closing her eyes, Essylt sang gently to the baby, in her melodious voice, a voice that most non-siren singers would give their right arm to have. She relaxed and talked to the baby for a while, before falling asleep.


—————

Later that night.

LeAnna came in quietly, trying to not wake her daughter. Seeing the young girl asleep on the couch, she gently lifted her up, and carried her off to bed. She bent over and kissed the teen, who smiled in her sleep.

“Good night my precious ones”, LeAnna said, as she pulled the blanket over her sleeping girl.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 37
—————

October 31st
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt grumbled and pulled on the bra. She was feeling freaking huge, and the fact that her boobs were leaking made her all that much more grumpy. she shifted and adjusted, inserting the absorbent pads. She sighed and walked over to the bed and looked at the loose-fitting outfit that lay on it. She picked it up and put it on before going to the mirror. Essylt looked in the mirror, smiled, and started putting on her makeup.

LeAnna looked up the stairs as her daughter came down. She smiled as the pretty redhead descended. Looking at her in the loose velvety black kitty outfit with the paw gloves and paw slippers. LeAnna got the camera and took a picture before helping fix the smudged pencilled on whiskers. She gave the girl a hug and then went to go to work. The Overseers were scheduled for an appearance at a local hospital, and then a special charity benefit masked ball.

Essylt grabbed her big bowl of candy and went out to her spot on the porch swing. This would be her first Halloween, and she was excited. She had spent the better part of the day carving Jack o’ lanterns, stringing up glow in the dark imitation spiderwebs, and putting out decorations in the yard. She camped out on her swing, and watched as the trick or treaters started to flow out into the street.

As Essylt sat in the early evening sun, she watched the younger kids escorted by parents. Several wanted to come up to her for candy, but she would see the parents and escorts frown or shake their heads, and walk on past the house. Essylt felt a tear run down her cheek. Group after group would see her and pass her by. It hurt her heart. Why were people so fearful and mean? She wasn’t dangerous. She just wanted to be friendly. Because of her touch-telepathy, she just wanted people to be happy, so she could feel their happiness, and share her own.

—————

After sunset, a few miles away.

Patty was dressed up fancy, her golden hair tied back in a ponytail. The tiara sat upon her head, and the tight green bodysuit accentuated her curves. She adjusted the fairy wings of her costume and looked about. Jimmy was late. What good was it to have a hot older boyfriend, if he was always running late to pick her up? She sighed and checked her watch before looking around. It was dark, and they would be late to the party. She did not want to be late. She wanted to show up on Jimmy's arm, and dazzle everyone. The braces had come off last week, and her dazzling smile was perfect. If she were lucky, Daddy would get her that new nose she wanted. Anyone looking at her would find no fault with her nose, but she wanted a cuter, petite nose. She smiled, thinking about how she had been gifted otherwise. Her boobs were perky, yet not too big or small. Her eyes were brilliant blue, rivaling the most brilliant sapphires. She had long legs, and an ass that other girls envied. Jimmy had better get there soon. She was getting nervous.

Something rustled in the grass behind her, She hated living so close to the nature preserve. Coyotes and foxes often tracked through the yard, She couldn’t let Precious out in the yard without being on a leash and being watched. Why did Daddy have to pick that house? He could afford any house he wanted. Patty shivered as the evening’s cold chilled her to the bone.

Jimmy arrived 20 minutes later. Patty was angry. She got in the car, without a word, and fumed. Patty looked ahead, her green eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

—————

Essylt blew out the candles in the jack o’ lanterns, and went in the house. Her bowl of candy was just as full as when she had first gone out. Sad and angry, Essylt threw the bowl across the room, scattering candy bars everywhere. She slumped onto the couch and began to tear up. Soon she was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. She cried herself to sleep on the couch.

When LeAnna came in, she saw the mess and sat beside her daughter. Gently, she brushed the hair from Essylt’s face. With that gentle touch, Essylt woke up and saw her mother sitting next to her. She wrapped her mother in a tight hug, and sniffled.

“It’s not fair Mom, nobody would come, I sat and watched as parents pulled their kids away. Am I a monster? Why can’t I have friends? I just want to be friendly, and to make people happy. I just feel so alone. I’m a freak. A freak, a whore, and a monster!!! How can you stand to look at me?”, Essylt sobbed and buried her face into her mother’s shoulder.

LeAnna gently stroked the young girl’s pretty hair. “Essie, you are not a monster. You are the gentlest, kindest person I have ever met. You never judge anyone, and you always think the best of people. You have a kind heart, and a lot of love to give.
That little one inside of you is lucky, they will have the best mother possible. Who cares what some superstitious, mutaphobes think? Or what people see when they see that you are pregnant? You have more love to give than a hundred of them.”

Once Essylt had calmed down, she and LeAnna sat down, and pulled a comforter out, and sat covered by it as they watched scary movies. Essylt, occasionally got scared, but she felt safe with her mother there.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 38
—————

November 14th
Crystal Hall, Whateley Academy

Nikki Reilly sat at the Venus Inc. table, waiting for Tansy and Lanie. There was another company that was interested in a Christmas Elf photoshoot, and this one had the potential to be quite lucrative. She looked around the cafeteria, those two were running late, probably some hang up in whatever secret goings-on those two were involved in. She had tried once to approach them about it, but they had brushed it off and glanced across the room towards the spot that Reverend Englund was standing.

Nikki's thoughts were suddenly broken up when she saw Selkie approach a table full of sidhe students. Every now and then they would look up and glance at her and then lower their heads in conspiratorial manner. Sighing, Nikki got up and walked over. She nodded to those assembled at the table. Zephyr gave her the usual unfriendly stare, but the others invited her to sit down.

Nikki sighed and asked the question that was floating there like the elephant in the room. "What's going on, I noticed you all looking over at me. I expect a certain attitude from Zephyr, certainly, but I thought I was on good terms with the rest of you." Zephyr crossed her arms over her chest, and turned her head away from Nikki, the others gathered looked at each other. Selkie elbowed Sanctuary in the ribs, causing her to let out a squeal.

"Well, back in June, there was a girl here that I was showing around. And well, she had heard of you and was determined to avoid you.", Rhiannon said quietly, to which Zephyr snorted. Nikki raised an eyebrow in such a manner that Mr. Spock would have been proud.

Fumbling, Rhiannon continued. "Anyhow, Essylt... that's her name... met with Carson, I thought nothing of it when she didn't enroll in the Fall semester, so I didn't say anything. But I heard a rumor that she will be moving here at the beginning of the Winter term. Apparently her adopted mother is friends with the new Aquatics instructor, and she will be staying with her and her fiancee. The only reason I brought it up to the rest of the group is that there are two things unusual about her. first thing is that she looks like you Fey, I mean except that she has green eyes, and her hair was short, and she um is bigger than you..." For emphasis, Rhiannon held her hands out in front of her chest quite a ways.

"The other thing is that she is pregnant, which is amazing. I've never heard of a pregnant sidhe.", Sanctuary finished. Nikki looked at the others gathered there, Rascal, Zephyr, Thorn, and Shadowdancer.

Nikki swallowed the lump growing in her throat. "That's because there has not been a sidhe child born into the world since before the sundering. At least that's what Aunghadhail had told me.” The others looked at her uncertainly, Zephyr scowling harder due to the invocation of the name of the Queen of the West.

Nikki took a deep breath. “As you know, most sidhe have a life expectancy in the hundreds of thousands of years, some are estimated to be virtually immortal. Because of this, we tend to have low fertility. Add to that the fact that we can’t reproduce with other races, unless magic or science is involved. If this girl is pregnant, keep all this quiet, if others were to learn of this, it could be very dangerous. There are forces out there that would want to abduct this child, or even kill it. Some might think this baby might be like a Sidhe Messiah, others might see it as a sign that we are trying to supplant humanity.” The rest of the group looked down, the weight of what Nikki said looming large over them.


—————

That same day
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt cried as she opened the gifts. All the girls from the team had gathered for the baby shower. She was keeping the gender a secret, though she knew from the telepathic bond she had with the baby. That didn’t stop her friends from lavishing her with gifts for the baby. Although there were supposed to be no men allowed at the baby shower, Sean and James were upstairs painting and putting things together. a few random curses were heard, followed by raucous laughter.

LeAnna turned her head towards the staircase. “Is everything okay up there?”, she shouted.

Loud laughter roared down, and then Sean’s voice rang out. “Right as rain, lassie. Just ne’er ask a gadgeteer/devisor to assemble a crib. Boyo is having a might bit o’ trouble.”

Defcon’s huffy reply echoed down afterwards. “ I’d have no trouble with it if they had included English directions.”

LeAnna giggled and called up the stairs again. “Do we need to retest your ratings on your MID?”

Silence followed, broken up by occasional grumbles.

Essylt laughed at the exchange, then went back to tearing open packages. She held the strange object up, pondering at it, unsure of what it was. It looked like some sort of nefarious torture device. Charity leaned over and whispered in her ear about what the breast-pump was. Essylt blushed bright red, and hugged her in thanks for the gift.

After all the presents were open, the girls played party games, the guys went out on the back deck and had some beer, and a wonderful time was had by all.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 39
—————

November 22nd
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt sat on the couch, her feet tired. She had been helping all day with the cleaning and cooking and needed a break. She was feeling all of her extra baby weight. She was beat. Everyone would be there that afternoon, and it was a special day. Flipping on the TV, she watched the Holiday parade stream through New York, the Empire City Guard’s float was traveling down Broadway, the heroes smiling and waving and throwing out candy and stickers to the children around the parade route.

The doorbell rang, and Essylt dragged herself to her feet. She opened the door, and much to her surprise Roger bolted in, followed by Renata and Bill.

Her eyes wide, Essylt was speechless, “ What? How… When?” , she stammered.

Renata smiled and laughed. “Of course we would come out for your first Thanksgiving, silly.”

She looked at the smiling girl, before helping her back to the couch. Essylt put her poor sore feet up and sat, petting Roger.
She continued to watch the television, having switched to football pre-game. Roger nudged her, and dropped a rope toy down in front of her and gave a small bark. Giggling, she bent over and picked it up, tossing it across the room. Roger happily ran over and grabbed it, bringing it back. She reclined on the couch, her hand trailing down alongside, to where she could pet Roger.

Essylt lounged unable to get back up on her own, rubbing her belly as she rubbed Roger’s head with the other hand. The youngster was feisty this morning, kicking up a storm. The doorbell rang, and she wobbled, to try to get up. It was no use. Renata laughed and motioned for her to stay. Renata opened the door and welcomed Charity in. Charity headed to the kitchen to help LeAnna. Renata sat down beside Essylt, and started rubbing the poor girl’s feet. Essylt sighed contently, it felt sooo good. She was happy, Roger was there, and Renata’s foot rub felt so good. Her feet were swollen and sore from the extra weight she was carrying.

Cassie was the next team member to arrive, bringing a crockpot into the kitchen. She returned to the living room and joined the others. Bill was getting the evil-eye from the girls, as he was a die-hard Packer fan. Essylt laughed, watching him scream at the officials on the screen about how the Lions were holding. The doorbell rang again, and the huge bear of a man that was ‘Uncle’ Sean entered, bringing in what clearly smelled like Irish soda bread and preserves, as well as a large sealed bowl.

One more time the doorbell rang, and showing up was James. James was carrying some sort of high-tech warming device, the scent of pumpkin and Pecan pie wafting from it. Hesmiled and shook Bill's hand, before heading to the kitchen with a large wrapped bowl.

Since everyone had arrived, LeAnna popped her head out of the kitchen and informed them that the turkey would be ready shortly. While she finished on the final preparations, Everyone gathered around Essylt and helped her back upright. She thanked them, and gave everyone a hug. She cried a little, and admitted that she was a little scared. The baby would be due in 3-4 weeks, and it was a lot for the teen to take on. Bill and Renata smiled and hugged her, reminding her that they would be there. They had arranged for a Nanny to help out when Essylt was in class, and their schedules were flexible. Renata having mostly morning and early afternoon classes, and Bill working nights.

The outflow of love and sympathy got to Essylt and she cried tears of joy. She started to get up, to go to the table, but the adults all instructed her to sit, they would bring her food. Everything was ready, and LeAnna brought out the turkey. Sean said grace, and then carved the bird. Although she couldn’t have the turkey, Essylt got a large plate of stuffing, mashed potatoes - Sean had made that, and had made colcannon, traditional Irish mashed potatoes with cabbage. She loved the green bean hot dish, no true Minnesotan would call it a casserole. There was a lot of food, as Sean was a PK brick, and Renata was an energizer.

After dinner, Essylt had some pumpkin and some pecan pie, alá mode, of course. After all that food, the young girl fell asleep on the couch, while the adults cleaned up. After all the food was put away and the dishes done, the grown-ups returned to the living room, and sat, talking about the precious girl that sat sleeping in front of them. Then talk switched to other subjects, rumors of villains that had come to town, and stories of solo exploits. After a While, Essylt stirred and woke up. Cassie ran out to her car and got her violin, while Sean got his bodrhán. Sean started playing his Irish drum, while Cassie accompanied him on the violin. Soon LeAnna and Essylt sang along, as the others danced, and Roger panted and barked along.

Eire
A Whateley Universe Story
Part 40
—————
December 21st
The Baker-Smith household
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Essylt sat in bed, grumbling. The Doctor had ordered her into bed rest two weeks prior, and she was hating every minute of it. She rubbed her belly and sighed. She was due in a couple weeks, and couldn’t wait. Being stuck in bed was a pain. Sighing, Essylt got up and shuffled towards the bathroom. She made it a few steps, when she felt a sharp pain. She wandered into the bathroom and filled the tub and sat. the water was soothing, and she relaxed for a while.

Getting out of the tub was a chore, but Essylt managed. She felt increased weight on her bladder, but that wasn’t anything she wasn’t prepared for. All her baby books had told her that the baby would settle lower about this time in the pregnancy. it was uncomfortable, but she could deal. However, that made her need to pee urgently. It was the next thing that startled her. She felt the mucus plug pass, looking in the bowl, she saw the pink glob. Flushing, she staggered back to bed. Another sharp pain hit her, these were different from the Braxton Hicks contractions that she had been feeling through her pregnancy, these were more of a sharp pain, she could feel it in her stomach, her back, her pelvis.

Grabbing her phone, Essylt called her mother. “Mom, I think it’s time. I’m having contractions. Last one was about 20 minutes ag….ggggggggaaaahhhhh!… that hurt!! Please come soon Mommy.” Essylt was tearing up. All her books told her that if they were 20 minutes apart, she was in early labor. It was a half hour later when LeAnna rushed through the door, still in her costume. Essylt was in the middle of a contraction, she had a death grip on the bed posts, and was crying. Ushering the girl down the stairs carefully, she Escorted her to the car. A bag had been packed for the hospital, and had been in the trunk for about a week, just for such an emergency. They arrived at the University Mutant Care Hospital an hour later. Essylt was wheeled to delivery, as LeAnna checked her in.

Digging in the sweatpants pockets she had hastily thrown on over her costume, LeAnna pulled out her phone. She sent a quick text off to Renata, and then called to the Headquarters. Sean was on his way, and the others would join him when they were off shift. Putting the phone back in her pocket, LeAnna made her way to the delivery area. Doctor Simpkins met her and filled her in. It was indeed labor, Essylt’s water had just broken, and she was slightly dilated. The kindly doctor escorted the anxious grandmother-to be to the waiting area. It would be a great many hours yet, and Essylt would need her family and friends around her for the ordeal.

LeAnna pulled the phone out again, and dialed. “Daddy. Yes, it’s time. We are at the hospital. No, no need to rush. It’ll be some time yet. Yes, I’ll keep you up to date. I love you too. I’ll see you when you get here.”

After hanging up with her Father, LeAnna paced for a while. About 20 minutes passed, and Sean came in, and gave her a hug. LeAnna was worried and anxious and scared and hesitant and all the raw emotions that an expecting grandparent could possibly feel. Sean gave the diminutive woman a hug and sat down, motioning for her to sit.

“Sean, I’m so scared. She’s so tiny, and so naive. Can she really be a mother? All her life that she knows is less than a year.” Leanna fidgeted as she cried into the shoulder of the huge man.

“Lass, ye have tae have faith in her. She is stronger than ye know. With her powers, she could pro’bly smack our whole team around. That baby is goin’ tae be safe as safe can be. As for her experience, she will have Renata and Bill ta help her until she comes back for th’ summer. And I am not worried, the lassie has the best mother she could possibly hope for.”

LeAnna smiled and wiped tears from her cheek and hugged the huge mountain of a man. Dr. Simpkins came back out. Essylt was resting, in between contractions. They were coming slightly quicker, but there was quite a while to go. LeAnna looked at the older woman, and asked her if she could be in with her. The doctor thought that it would be a good idea, and called a nurse over to show LeAnna to a changing room, so she could get on scrubs. After changing, LeAnna was led to the delivery room.

Essylt was laying back, her feet were up in the stirrups, and she was in a hospital gown. Her face was red, and covered in the tracks of tears that had run down her face. Her red hair was a mess of frizz. Silently, LeAnna stepped along beside her daughter, and held her hand, mindful to be out of the way of the doctor and the nurses.

—————

Out in the waiting area Sean sat. As the hours passed, others trickled in. Cassie was the first to arrive. She sat down alongside her teammate. A short time later, Paul Baker came in, a stuffed bear under his arm. He had met Sean on a couple occasions while visiting is daughter, so he walked up to the large Irishman.

“Is there any news?”, Paul asked nervously.

Sean looked at the older man and replied. “Th’ doctor told us tha’ she is partially dilated, so it could be a few hours, it could be tomorrow. At this point, we just dinnae know yet.”

Cassie graciously ran down to the cafeteria and got coffee for everyone while Sean and Paul talked. When she had returned, Charity was there, having just arrived. Jokingly, she told her best friend that she had just finished a coffee run, and wouldn’t be making another for a while. Then she blew a raspberry at the shorter girl and handed over her coffee, and headed back down to the cafeteria.

When Cassie returned, the waiting room was filled. James had arrived, as well as several of the staff of the HQ, were there as well. With a sigh, she turned around and headed back to get more coffee. James sat next to Paul, who was eyeing his cybernetic limbs with curiosity. The Gadgeteer and Devisor explained the principles of his limbs to the fascinated science teacher, as they all sat around.


—————

“Push!”, LeAnna said gently, yet firmly. Essylt was baring down, her face was red. Sweat streamed down her face, blending in with the tears.

Dr. Simpkins looked up. “She is fully dilated, we are in the home stretch now! I need you to hold on and not push until I say!”

Essylt cried and gripped her mother’s hand tightly. The pain hurt, and she had burned the epidural anethesia out of her system already. Dr. Simpkins ordered a special Devisor-made anesthetic.

—————

Out in the waiting room people paced and fidgeted, conversations continued. Every now and then someone would head to the chapel and say a prayer.

—————

“Push!”

Essylt screamed and bore down. “Good job, one more should do it!”, Dr. Simpkins replied. “And push!”

“NGGGGGGH!!!!” Essylt pushed and the pain was immense. She collapsed back against the backrest and breathed hard.
She was at the end of her physical endurance, her energy was spent. Then she heard the most wondrous thing. Her baby’s cry.

Dr. Simpkins, smiled as she cut the cord, and handed the child to the nurse to clean up carefully. “Congratulations, it’s a girl.”

The nurse handed the little bundled baby to Essylt, who held her daughter and cried. She looked at the precious little life, gently stroking the point of her ear, looking at her crystal blue eyes.

“Welcome to the world, Siobhan LeAnna. You are loved.”, Essylt said, weeping. She reached her arm out to her mother and held it as the newborn was nestled against her chest.


————

The End.